Essential ASL: The Fun, Fast, and Simple Way to Learn American Sign Language [Paperback]

Martin L. Sternberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0062734288 | ISBN-13: 978-0062734280

American Sign Language -- ASL -- is the third most commonly used language in the United States, after English and Spanish. It is already accepted as a second language requirement in the public school systems in 10 states.

Compact, up-to-date and very user-friendly, Essential ASL contains the 700 most popular signs. Distilled from the American Sign Language Concise Dictionary, one of the most authoritative references in the field, these signs are illustrated with 2,000 easy-to-follow pictures. Hand, arm and facial movements are shown to ensure that the reader learns each technique correctly. 50 common phrases are also featured. Designed for quick reference and portability, Essential ASL is an indispensable aid for users who want to begin signing immediately with confidence.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin L. A. Sternberg, Ed.D., is a native New Yorker. Deaf since the age of seven, he has spent most of his career working with deaf people. The idea for this book came from Dr. Elizabeth Peet, Dr. Sternberg's sign language teacher at Gallaudet University (for the deaf), in Washington, DC. Dr. Sternberg kept Dr. Peet's ideas and methods, but expanded the work greatly. Early work on the project received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare to New York University, the sponsoring institution. A graduate of the City College of New York, American University, and New York University, Dr. Sternberg has enjoyed a distinguished career as a teacher at Gallaudet, New York, Hofstra, and Adelphi Universities. HE is currently chairman of the board of trustees of Lexington School for the Deaf and Lexington Center for the Deaf. He is the author of four ASL dictionaries and a Codies Award-winning CD-ROM, all published by HarperCollins. He also received Emmy and Peabody nominations for his ASL series by the NBC network, "Speaking With Your Hands," as well as medals at various international film and television festivals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (June 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734288
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734280
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #964,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good written descriptions of signs, bad selection of words, March 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Essential ASL: The Fun, Fast, and Simple Way to Learn American Sign Language (Paperback)

This book has one big thing going for it, and that is, for the words that they do have, they give excellent written descriptions of the hand motions (which are usually impossible to decipher from the drawings). But about 95% of the time that I pick it up to look up a word, it doesn't have it. Here are some words it doesn't have: over, ladder, fix (but it has fax), light (but it has lesbian), cut, knife - these words seem pretty basic to me.

The section that teaches you whole phrases is good only for laughing. It has the most useless, ridiculous phrases - but let me give you some examples: "Those kids have already become snobs." "We want to see you, but not until my daughter leaves." "You must inform the family about our recent marriage." "I have a few cats under the house."

I do not recommend this book.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Yes, it's simple . . ., July 3, 2001

By 

Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential ASL: The Fun, Fast, and Simple Way to Learn American Sign Language (Paperback)

"Simple" is the operative word here. While this guide provides illustrations and arrows to show movement, the vocabulary is more limited than I had expected. I did appreciate both verbal and illustrated descriptions of each word, so if I couldn't figure out what one meant, I could go to the other.

This book is for those curious about ASL, or for those (like me) who need only the barest knowledge of it. For people who seriously want (or need) to learn ASL, find another, more definitive book. This one will only frustrate you with its simplicity.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is not a how-to book. It is only a dictionary., February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Essential ASL: The Fun, Fast, and Simple Way to Learn American Sign Language (Paperback)

After reading the title I expected this book to teach me the process of Sign Language. Instead it was a dictionary. There were a few commonly used phrases, but not many. You would be better off buying the ASL Dictionary. The ASL Dictionary is much more informative.