Customer Reviews

The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As fas as ASL dictionaries go, this one is the best I've found. The pictures are clear, and the words are logically grouped. It even includes some local/regional signs. The best feature is the disc that comes with it. You type the word, and the sign come up on the screen, in the form of a video clip. They use many signers, so you get to see how different people shape their hands. Also, it includes advanced sign.

This book is good in that it has a ton of signs and comes with a DVD too. The bad part is that the book dosen't have any words describing how the sign is being done. You see an image of the hands moving. The hands start in light color and then they are in bold in the ending position. But without viewing the DVD is hard to see how the sign works. It also dosen't have any memory helpers like a lot of books do. This book might be good if you already know the sign and just need a refresher. It definitely isn't helpful if you're just learning the sign and unless you carry a DVD player with you at all times.

This is an invaluable tool for anyone learning or even already proficient in ASL. I doubt I would have done as well as I did in my first semester without it! The drawings are clear and terminology is easy to locate or research through the glossary in the back. And what truly makes it a "5 Star" tool is the DVD with motion and clear demonstration of the sign gestures and directions. An absolute MUST HAVE for signers at any level!

I have been taking American Sign Language classes for almost two years now. Many of the "book" dictionaries try to illustrate the proper motions and facial expressions for ASL signs, but trying to show these signs in static two-dimensional images, even with descriptions, left me uncertain in many cases. I did use some online dictionaries that demonstrated ASL signs with video clips, but the online dictionaries I found did not provide an extensive number of signs. The DVD with the Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language is outstanding! By typing in the sign you want to see, you can jump directly to a video demonstration for that sign (for more than 3,000 signs). The DVD, like the written portion of the dictionary, is also more up to date than many other ASL dictionaries. When you cannot practice ASL signs with others, observing video clips is the next best thing. This DVD dictionary is an excellent aid.

Another book is better than the Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language. The better book is the Random House Webster's American Sign Language Dictionary, Unabridged. It contains dictionary definitions for the words you are looking up, an explanation of the reason why the sign is the way it is, and a written explanaition of how to make the sign. None of these features are in the Gallaudet Dictionary.

At first I did not understand the value of the dictionary definitions in the Random House Dictionary. But then I realized that some English words have very different meanings which are represented by completely different signs. For Example, the word "country" can mean a foreign state or a rural location. Those two meanings have are represented by two different signs.

This dictionary comes with a DVD of people performing the signs - incredibly helpful as sometimes it is hard to figure out how a sign looks by simply looking at a drawing in a book. Be aware that a lot of the signs are East Coast signs (naturally, as Gallaudet is in Washington DC) so you may see some diversity in a lot of the signs if you are not on the East Coast. Overall, a great investment.

My wife and I have been studying ASL for several years and we have a number of dictionaries, books, videos, etc. The Gallaudet Dictionary (book) is excellent and has a great many signs not found in other dictionaries. The enclosed CD is fabulous. It is worth the price all by itself. I especially love the ability to slow down or stop action the video of the "sign" to catch the nuances. I have already recommended this book to several friends who are also studying ASL. If I had to pick one ASL dictionary to buy, this would definitely be the one.

The Gallaudet Dictionary Of American Sign Language is a straightforward and practical reference. Consisting of 3,000 entries, The Gallaudet Dictionary Of American Sign Language includes a simple black-and-white diagram for signing each word, as well as an index and a full- color DVD featuring a diverse group of native ASL signers demonstrating the words. An introduction walking readers through the basics of ASL rounds out this superb and definitive reference.

We purchased a copy of this title for our library and were disappointed to learn that the DVD cannot be played in a standard DVD player (connected to a television set), but must be played in a computer DVD drive.

I have purchased many ASL dictionaries over the years. There are several that are excellent for teaching beginners as well as more advanced students. I have found that this new dictionary by Gallaudet Press meets the criteria for an excellent resource for new and seasoned signers. I have found that the ease of the pictures were very helpful for my students to comprehend the handshapes and motion of the signs. Moreover, the DVD was very good to show how the signs were made by demonstration. I recommend this dictionary and the wonderful DVD to be used within public schools and college level classrooms!