Customer Reviews

Random House Webster's Concise American Sign Language Dictionary

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This dictionary was recommended to me by my sign instructor. The signs are clearly illustrated and the definitions are in great details in this dictionary. I think this dictionary is right for all levels of sign students.

For some time, we've had some flash cards and a small book containing signs to teach our son, who is nearly 1 1/2. I found the little book and cards to be frustrating for multiple reasons. The flash cards get out of alphabetical order easily, so it's hard to look something up; and there are only about 50-60 signs featured in each set. Words that my son would really like to be able to express, like "light" and "fan" and "otter" and "frog," are missing. Additionally, some of the words from the book and flash cards overlap, but the two formats disagree about what the signs are!
So, based on the reviews and on the number of signs included, I couldn't wait to get the Random House Webster's Concise American Sign Language Dictionary. The book does have a lot going for it. If you know the alphabet in sign language (and it's included in the book, in case you don't), the descriptions of signs really help clarify the illustrations. As soon as we got the book, I looked up "light" and "frog," and I was delighted to be able to sign them to my son. Catching my excitement, he signed "light" back right away. But "otter" was missing from the dictionary. "Well," I thought, "maybe there is no sign for 'otter.'" No huge loss, since my son does an endearing otter impression anyway.
But then I discovered that "fan" has also been left out of the dictionary. "Fan" is a pretty basic and common word, so I assume that there is a specific sign for it.
Examples of words that ARE included: ascend, delegate, optimistic, sightseeing, humid, dominoes, rehabilitation, sterilization, robot, sacrifice, slavery, porpoise, hawk, pimples, zap, worship, prostitute, puzzle, diamond, lesbian, loiter, merchandise.
Examples of words that AREN'T included: otter, squash, fan, beaver, whale, moose, ceiling, kaleidoscope, owl, crow, robin, quail, raven, tiger, zebra, wolf, coyote, tractor, mow, guava, tortilla, quesadilla, spinach, wheel, cactus, cardinal.
Being able to say words like "rehabilitation" is definitely useful; it would take a long time to spell them out. But I think I probably talk about fans more often than I talk about robots. This is a self-proclaimed concise dictionary, and there is a note at the beginning of the book about which words were included and which words weren't (and why), but that still doesn't help me sign "squash" or "moose."
I don't know that anyone cares, but the copy of this book that we received does have a slightly different cover than the one pictured. The picture shows hands in a single sign, whereas our book features five full-color photos of a woman signing. I actually like the one we got better than the one pictured.
Oh, and previous reviews indicate that the alphabet and numbers are listed in the back of the book. Numbers are still at the back of the book, but each letter of the alphabet now appears at the start of the section of words beginning with that letter.
Overall, I was torn between giving the book three stars and four. I really like the descriptions of how to do signs, but that only helps when the word I want to sign is in the dictionary.

This is a GREAT value. Very in depth and very thorough. This book covers it all, it even has the fingerspell alphabet and numbers in the back of the book. As far as a sign language dictionary this is the very best one I found, and I looked at several. Not small enough to carry around in your pocket but I don't think anything with this much information could be that small.

This book has wonderful pictures for most of the words in the book. It also has nice instructions on how to form the words and letters. In the back it includes the alphabet and cardinal & ordinal numbers. It is also at a very good value!

We have an employee that was born deaf. He has been to the best schools for the deaf available in this area since he was a child. I would consider him an expert at the different sign languages and also lip reading. When he looked at this book he let me know that it was very good with up to date signs and easy to understand examples. I ordered three copies for use at work and one for him. This book has at least 4500 signs. He explained that he knew over 3000 signs but couldn't possibly know or remember them all. This is a great reference for all of us. A real communication bonus.

I love this book. It's actually my 2nd copy. I have been teaching my 2 year old hearing son ASL since he was 3 months old. I'm forever going to this dictionary to look up a new word. It is really comprehensive. There have only been a few times I haven't found a word I was looking for.

One thing I don't like is the paper in this printing of the book. It is more like newspaper print. The original one I bought is white paper. It does make a difference.

I like this book also for the pictures. They are pretty easy to understand.

Along with my Signing Time videos and one online ASL dictionary, this is one of my top favorite ASL resourses.

I recommend to everyone & have even bought as a babyshower gift.

Please don't hesitate to buy this book if you need an ASL reference!!!

This is awesome, up to date and fits in your purse! I have been asked to help interpret songs for the teenage group at our church. This has been invaluable. Highly recommended! It is also good for conversation. Sometimes you are grappling for a certain sign that you don't use that often, this is an great resource to pull out of your purse/pocket to use.

We started out signing with our first child as a baby, then wanted to continue learning American Sign Language together as a family, as a second language and as part of our homeschooling. I searched for a dictionary that would meet our family's needs as being easy to use, small enough to carry in the diaper bag, and good for those new to learning ASL. I reviewed other ASL dictionaries and this one best met our needs. What I like most is that it lists the greatest number of words. Because there are fewer words in the ASL vocabulary (for example, the same sign can mean beautiful AND pretty) sometimes we look up one of the words that does not have a direct ASL equivalent. This book refers the user to the correct word. In some other dictionaries, there is simply no entry so the user is left trying to figure out other words to look up. I also like the price and that the author is respected in her field.

I am fairly new to ASL, and I find this fairly easy to use. While no means comprehensive, it does have a number of signs you will probably need in your daily life. While it does use drawings, it also tells the user what handshapes to use and how to move them. At the back is the alphabet and numerals.

I don't think this should be someone's only guide to ASL, but it is a good supplement to carry with you to practice.

Words are to small, had I known I would have purchased a hardback with bigger writing of words. Thats the only thing.