Five Words
You've heard me enthuse about the joys of American Sign Language before. Wonderboy's hearing loss is our entire family's gain. I've decided to share the wealth by adding a new feature to Bonny Glen: Learn ASL in five words a week.
Here's a link to the wonderful ASL Browser, a site featuring video demonstrations of hundreds and hundreds of signs. Its setup won't allow me to link directly to a specific word, but there's an alphabetical listing for you to peruse.
Most of the signs at this site are demonstrated through a series of still photos instead of video, but I can link to individual words there. I recommend visiting the ASL Browser for a live-action demo of the words as well.
So, this week's Five Words:
Yes.
No.
Hello. (This one's at yet another site—the video's a little choppy.)
And finally, a big thanks to the folks behind all these sites, whose hard work brings the beauty of ASL to the world, free for the taking!
Lissa, what do you recommend as the best sign language resource to use after completing the Signing Times videos?
Posted by: Molly Smith | January 04, 2006 at 10:17 AM
Thank you! I just linked from your site to ASL Browser before reading this entry. I am trying to teach my 22 month old son, Aaron more signs, because he does not have very many words. I taught him "more, please", and was just teaching him "help" today.
Posted by: Mary Beth Patnaude | January 04, 2006 at 12:45 PM
What a great idea! I highly recommend teaching the sign for "more" - it's always one of the first (if not THE first) I teach my kids. Along with "eat" "drink" "water" "all done" and "yucky". :-D
Posted by: Barb | January 04, 2006 at 04:55 PM
This is such a wonderful idea for your blog! My sons and I will be learning these each week. And as a plus, we stopped at Sonic while on a road trip this past week and in their kid's meals they are giving sign language cards. We have decks 3 and 4.
Posted by: Michelle | January 04, 2006 at 08:16 PM
Barb: I think you just gave me next week's wordlist! :)
Molly: Your library might have a series of videos about the Bravo family—while not nearly as magical as Signing Time (very different format, appropriate for kids 8 and up, I'd say), they cover a lot of useful signs and attempt to be engaging. Very bad 80s fashions, though! ;)
(Google "ASL" and "Bravo family" and you'll turn up several hits.)
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | January 05, 2006 at 02:40 AM