Characterizations of Language

In Deaf culture, there are three primary ways of communicating:

Oral:  Spoken English through speech, speechreading, and sometimes even residual hearing. 

Language:  A primarily visual language with its own rule contructions.  In the US, this is known as ASL.  The shape, location, orientation, movement of hands, intensity of motions, facial expression, and body movement all communicate meaning.

Simultaneous communication: Using sign language, fingerspelling, speech, etc.  Using a combination of ASL and signed English is! often called Pidgin Sign Language. 

We share the opinion of many that ASL is a legitimate visual language used by many.  It has a complex set of rules that guide both the signer and the signee.

In the verbal language level of sound and tone play a major role in the understanding of a context.  In ASL, the position of the hand and the use of large or small gestures, for example, serve the same purpose.  For much more information about ASL's language and discourse structure, click here. Or click here to learn some signs.