Customer Reviews

Religious Signing: A Comprehensive Guide For All Faiths

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This text, like others from Elaine Costello, is comprehensive concerning religious signs. I did not say exhaustive. There is no such thing. The geographic and cultural variations are too great to fully document in one text. Contrary to another reviewer, there are not wrong signs in this book. The reviewer mistook geographic variation with which she was not familiar for mistakes. But Elaine Costello isn't going to offer wrong signs! She's an expert and it's just not going to happen. This text, along with the medical sign dictionary, should be used with the American Sign Language dictionary she published in the early 90's, which is also comprehensive. There are many other sign books out there, and many have come to think that "The Joy of Signing" is about the best. But it's far from it. It's good, but it doesn't actually present American Sign Language; rather, it presents Signed English. One is better off just grouping together Costello's comprehensive resources for referencing signs and then buying ASL grammar books to supplement. If, on the other hand, one wants to learn Signed English--which is not accepted in the Deaf community--then buy all the sign dictionaries you want and skip the grammar books.

Costello has set the standard for sign language dictionaries and there's really no need for others to produce their own competitive versions. Costello should just continue to expand her current works and also produce other specialized dictionaries as she did with the religious and medical field. The next one she should produce is a legal dictionary. Others should consider writing books which better explain the grammar of the language of the Deaf community. Those who use Signed English aren't speaking another language; they're speaking coded English, just like writing and morse code and fingerspelling is just coded English. The Hearing community needs to learn to speak ASL, not coded English; and Costello, not Reikohoff, leads much more in this direction.

As a certified sign language interpretor who started interpreting services six years ago, this book has proved an invaluable resource to me personally and an excellent teaching tool for church service interpretors.

The illusrations and written instructions for each sign are excellent. The range of signs given is impressive.

However there are a few drawbacks.

First the appendixes of prayers are given in Signed English and NOT ASL

Secondly there are many, many signs which are not universally recognized. (I am thinking specifically of Presbyterian - which I have never seen signed in the manor discribed. And alternate form of Christian given is "JESUS" + Person Marker. Again I have never seen Christian signed any other way but "CHRIST" + Person Marker.

But all-in-all the book is a wonderful resource to anyone ineresed in deaf minisitry.

Sounds Wonderful! I think everyone should have this book! It teaches you how to say basic chuch-related words and actual prayers! It also teaches you some words in Signed English, a form of signing where you sign each phrase word for word!) ( It's good to know a little bit of Signed English in addition to ASL.) Oh did I mention that there are signs in this book you can't get in other Signing Books? Try it!

I have searched Christian bookstores, libraries and the web to find the Lord's Prayer in sign language. Finally a book that has that and so much more! I am teaching kindergarten religious education and thought it would be fun to teach them the prayer in sign language. This book is so helpful!

I found this book on relilgious signing very informative. My desire is to be able to sign in the church, of all different denominations, and this book has a wealth of information as to the signs and even why they are signed that way. There is even a section in the back showing well known prayers and how they are to be signed! I highly recommend it to anyone who desires to work in a church setting.

This book has proven quite helpful... many signs that we could not find anywhere else were in this book. Although some signs were different than what my signing friends have been doing, most were helpful, and the variances may reflect geographic differences. Over all, very helpful. (I also found that some words that were not listed in the index WERE used in the texts of the prayers in the back of the book... so don't hesitate to check the prayers for needed words!)

One reviewer stated, "Elaine Costello isn't going to offer wrong signs!" but since this book as not been revised in 20 years, there are several signs that have simply fallen out of favor and are really no longer in use. Additionally, many concepts shown seem to favor an initialized signed English form of the sign. Yes, I do agree that no ASL dictionary can be exhaustive but the signs here seem to have been pulled from a limited geographic area (namely, the central east cost, New York, Washington, Maryland, etc.) Not entirely bad as many signs are used in many regions, but the signs used only in this area will not be useful to most. I also see a couple signs in the book that I would say are not only outside of common use but also conceptually inaccurate (e.g. Justification which is depicted as the concept of justice - as in judicial equality and fairness for all, not the forgiveness of all believers which is a different concept). Perhaps if this reference were revised, updated and maybe a arranged not only with an alphabetical glossary of each concept in English but then with each sign classified and listed by handshape, it would be a much improved resource. As it is now, I would not highly recommend it. Again, as many have said it does not address ASL grammar, but that is not the function of a dictionary and I find that to be acceptable.

This book contains a lot of the basic sign language used at church. Not only does it have pictures to go with each sign, but it also has the formation of the sign written out.

This book contains wonderful illustrations of signs used in religious settings. It is very easy to follow, and contains many religious words not available in the other sign language dictionaries. I recommend this book to any church with a ministry to the deaf, or any church looking to start one!

I have been using this book for the last four years. I do ask if the signs need to be updated from my Deaf instructors and friends. This book has been an invaluable resource, as I share my testimony and sign in various venues. A necessary book for any signer.