American Sign Language the Easy Way [Paperback]

Ed. D. David A. Stewart (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764102990 | ISBN-13: 978-0764102998 | Publication Date: October 1, 2003 | Edition: 1

Current estimates have more than one million people using American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States, including approximately 450,000 deaf people. As growing numbers of deaf students are integrated into standard schools, the need for ASL interpreters continues to increase. Today, many public education systems offer an ASL course as a language elective in their curriculum, and this book--which can be used to teach both interpreters and the deaf--is an ideal text for such courses. Following a general introduction to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, the author explains the use of "facial grammar" as a preliminary step to learning and understanding manual signing. Two succeeding chapters present the first eleven key grammatical rules of ASL. The 36 lessons that follow are divided into four groups that put these rules into practice and introduce additional rules. All lessons conclude with a practice session that reviews the lesson's material and progressively develops the student's proficiency in communicating in ASL. Following each of the four groups of nine lessons is a brief chapter dealing with Deaf Culture. The book's many line drawings illustrate approximately 720 ASL signs and their multiple meanings. The author has focused the text to make learning American Sign Language as easy as it is useful, both for instructors and students.

Product Details

• Paperback: 474 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764102990
• ISBN-13: 978-0764102998
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #349,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

145 of 147 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy and informative guide to learning ASL., April 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: American Sign Language the Easy Way (Paperback)

Finally, a book that looks at ASL completely!! 'American Sign Language the Easy Way' is a must for the beginner ASL user. It provides comprehensive information about the signs themselves, the grammar of ASL, the importance of facial expression and the culture that surrounds native users. The conversational dialogues illustrated in the book give students useful and real-life scenarios of signs exchanged when interacting with other ASL users. When learning any oral language, grammar plays an important role. This is also true for ASL, a manual mode of communication that has its own unique set of grammatical rules that must be learned to converse effectively. Other books in ASL do not stress the importance of the grammar and facial expression. The Easy Way illustrates a wide variety of signs and the context for their use. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in learning ALL about American Sign Language, its form and culture.

83 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is ideal for both teaching and self taught methods, February 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: American Sign Language the Easy Way (Paperback)

American Sign Language The Easy Way is an explorative introduction to deaf language and culture. This book combines basic ASL grammar and language rules with conversational signs. Whether one is in a classroom or at home, ASL The Easy Way is a reliable sourcebook. It appeals to both students and teachers. As a beginner ASL student, I have found this book to be very useful. There are many misconceptions about ASL and this book provided an excellent introductery summary to erase these thoughts. For example, David Stewart discusses the physical and cultural dimensions of ASL. Stewart strongly states that "Learning ASL is not simply about learning another language. It is about access...ASL gives us access to Deaf culture"(p.5). Both chapter three and seven are essential to the understanding of ASL. Although short, Chapter 3: The Deaf Community, describes the complexity of deaf culture. Stewart distinguishes between nondeaf and deaf communities. He describes the "five important differences as: American Sign Language; Socialization; Organizations and Clubs; Schools for the deaf; and Deaf pride."(p101-102). As a speaking person learning ASL, these are five differences I did not think of until reading this book. In Chapter seven, Stewart discusses technology and adaptations to a speaking world. He focuses on tele- communition technology, alerting devices and sign language interpreting. Living with a deaf mother, I am well aware of the TTY, close captioning and interpreters. However, I was surprised at the alerting devices, such as lights flashing or vibration. I am embarrassed to say that my mother lives in a hearing home, one that does not have alert devices. I hope to convince my family that we should add such devices to better aid my mother, especially when she is alone. The vivid illustrations of signs in combination with grammar rules allows a beginner to learn ASL in two fold. I reccommend this book for anyone interested in learning ASL and for those who need a reliable classroom source book. Dr. David Stewart has done an excellent job within the limitations of Barron's 'the easy way'.

104 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal For Self-study or For in the Classroom. Super Book!!, September 17, 2000

By 

Rocco B. Rubino "Rocco R." (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Sign Language the Easy Way (Paperback)

Whether one is study by themselves, or one wishes to use this book as a beginning ASL text for classroom use, Dr. Stewert's book will have you well on your way to learning this beautiful language.

As a hearing impaired person, it is important to me to learn sign language as it is used in the deaf community. This book differs from other mass-marketed ASL books in that there are extensive explainations on ASL Grammar, facial expressions, and the culture of the Deaf Community. This book is chock-full useful vocabulary that is clearly illustrated and used in both English-gloss, and in ASL grammar to aid in learning.

People often see me practicing my ASL at school or at work and they express a desire "to learn sign language." My response to them is always the same: (1) Buy this book along with Martin LA Sternberg's ASL Dictionary (along with the one on CD ROM if you can), and (2) Stay away from courses and popular "Sign Language" courses and books that use the "pidgeon sign."

Why settle for learning this wonderful language the wrong way when you can have the best ASL text on the market?

Feel free to email me with more questions. I highly recommend this book, and like I said, I tell everyone I meet who expresses a desire to learn ASL to buy it!