Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Conversational Sign Language Illustrated

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a professor and instructor of ASL and Deaf Culture for over 35 years, this outstanding book mirrors so much of my lecture materials -- and a whole lot more. It has things in it that never crossed my mind to explain to my students. Indeed, it's not by oversight on my part but by intellectual stimulation that Carole and Dawn opted for. I finally found a fabulous textbook for my classes.

There are so many insipid ASL books in the market that either stimulate or encourage anyone to learn because they lacked instructiveness or assimilability. This Idiot won't make a moron out of any willing reader who wants to learn ASL and Deaf culture. Carole and Dawn clearly leads the way to learn and understand how ASL and Deaf culture work. This Idiot even has that wonderful teacher-student aura as one reads and tries to sign. The flow of thought and meaning is so even and clear.

Thanks, Carole and Dawn!

Congratulations!!

Curtis Robbins, Ph.D.

I wish this book had existed when I was first learning sign language! It is possibly the best beginner book out there. It is packed full of useful information, and goes far beyond just picking up sign language, delving into the Deaf world. This book is worth every penny, even if you already know quite a few words.

For newbies: although the author says what you're learning isn't ASL (but rather "Contact Sign") all of the signs are ASL (not Signed Exact English), what she means is that the way they're used in the book is simpler and more like pidgin (only I believe she went a step above that).

The words are ASL, and you will get a better feel of the iconic nature of most signs than with other books (such as making a distinction between just the word "Garage" and a garage that is underground, or a garage that is a few floors up. This is something I hadn't seen in books before, only in video and lifeprint,com.

Speaking of video, it does come with a DVD, which is *wonderful*. Trying to learn ASL from pictures will not work. It's too easy to misread directions (although the illustrations (photos) in this book are clear and well done!).

Don't let the awfulness of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to *Learning* Sign Language" keep you from getting "The Complete Idiot's Guide to *Conversational* Sign Language". This book is completely different!

This highly-produced book (using photographs of real people - unlike other books which have cartoon/drawn people) and DVD (again, using real people) showed me how to move my hands and face/body accurately. Yes, now I can feel more confident having conversations with deaf people without feeling at a loss for making small talk (those sections of the book and DVD were truly excellent). All the useful signs are in here, the sign conversations/phrases were practical, the stories were fascinating and amusing, and the deaf mother-hearing daughter team is adorable. I love it!


THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was a constant reference for me at my job, where we have a deaf colleague. It gives all the signs you need to converse with someone on a basic level - and, on every topic. Interestingly, I have never even seen another sign book covering important life topics that we all experience, such as funerals. The author photos and movement arrows are clear to see - and more importantly, easy to understand. This book is for anyone wanting to have simple conversations with deaf people, anytime or anywhere.

The collaborative work of Carole Lazorisak (Deaf Certified Interpreter and Professional American Sign Language Teacher) and freelance sign language interpreter Dawn Donohue, The Complete Idiot's Guide To Conversational Sign Language Illustrated is the most "user friendly" instructional reference for learning American Sign Language and Signed English, as well as the basics of finger spelling and common signs used in a variety of situations ranging from simple greetings, to asking for directions, to dire emergencies. Enhanced with hundreds of photos and illustrations, the step-by-step explanations and instructions will enable the reader to make small talk through finger spelled words and key conversational signs. An ideal personal instruction manual, the accompanying DVD provides full-hand motion of every sign and phrase included in the book.

The book together with the DVD are just what I needed to help me learn the basics and more of signing. A very good description of the appropriate way to interact with a deaf person/community is also given. I am losing my hearing after 65 and this information is invaluable.

My signing instructor is teaching PSE or Contact as it is called in the book and is enthusiastic about this material. It is helping me to be able to communicate without learning a completely new approach and syntax.

I purchased this item when I knew less ASL than now, and quickly outgrew it. As others have stated there is alot of information on deaf culture and little notes on social situations that were helpful. The photos were acceptable, even good. The book is not a dictionary, but rather designed to give you a kick start into conversation on a basic level. The DVD is user friendly and helps train your eyes to view signing, but contrary to some others I'd read about being too fast, this is too slow. There is a place for it though and would not consider it to be a waste, just expect to get what you do from it and then move on.

I was very pleased with this book and the DVD enclosed with it.
Our teacher for ASL showed it to the class several times for
illustrations and suggested to the class if you were going to buy a
book, that this woulld be an excellent book to buy.

I liked the casual nature of introducing sign language to people that have deaf people in their acquaintance.

Sign Language is presented in a context of conversation rather than a dictionary.

My staff, all hearing persons, responded very favorably to being able to say things in sign language that pleased both me and them.

This is a fresh approach to an age-old subject.

There are a million miles to go to be fully functional in any new language. Sign language is a new language. The more you use it, the easier it is to retain it.

My simple belief is that all people have areas of inadequacy. Those with a physical disability may only have one. People need to be looked at and hired for what they can do, not for their inadequacies and limitations.

Off my soapbox, this is a good book.

Having taken 2 semesters of ASL, I must admit that I was disappointed to see a vocabulary list that I knew 95% of...but this book is definitely an excellent source for those with no or very little prior ASL knowledge. NOTE: THIS IS NOT ASL. The book is Pidgin Signed English (now called Contact Signing) which is easier to learn if your first language is English. That is, the grammar of ASL is absent in the presence of English word order. But the way the book is laid out, it's easy to learn! There's little bits of cultural information, how to engage and end a conversation, "do"s and "don't"s, and more! I like the little anecdotes, too.

Pros: Easy to follow, comes with a DVD to reinforce and clarify signs, decent amount of information for a beginner

Cons: NOT ASL (ASL "words" but not the grammar) and not terribly helpful for those with moderate exposure to sign language


Overall, it's a handy cultural tool that helps you learn a little language :)