1,000 Signs of Life: Basic ASL for Everyday Conversation (Paperback)

by Editors of Gallaudet University Press (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Here’s the succinct handbook that will allow everyone to enjoy the beauty and functionality of American Sign Language. 1,000 Signs of Life: Basic ASL for Everyday Conversation illustrates a potpourri of intriguing and entertaining signs that can be grasped quickly and used to communicate with anyone familiar with ASL, deaf or hearing. Organized alphabetically in 17 categories, this handy paperback offers common signs for animals, food, clothes, people, health and body, the time, days of the week, seasons, colors, quantities, transportation and travel, and many more practical topics. Readers also can learn signs for community-related terms, holidays and religion, and for thoughts and emotions, signs that will offer them the opportunity to experience the full potential of ASL.

1,000 Signs of Life begins with a concise introduction to American Sign Language, including how it evolved and how its grammar and syntax work. Complementing this information are categories on signs for adjectives and adverbs, prepositions and locations, question words, and verbs and action words. Interspersed throughout the text are tips for signing, rules of signing etiquette, and engaging anecdotes about Deaf culture, Deaf people, and the Deaf community. 1,000 Signs of Life provides a fun, fast way to learn basic ASL signs and also offers easy-to-follow instructions and hints on how to use them in a variety of everyday situations. It’s the perfect streamlined guide for signing ASL.

About the Author
The Editors of Gallaudet University Press have written and edited more than 35 titles featuring signed languages during the past 24 years. Their offices are located at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Gallaudet University Press; 1st edition (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563682729
• ISBN-13: 978-1563682728
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #364,896 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple handbook intended for the general reader and student, September 11, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Expertly compiled and organized by the Gallaudet University Press editorial staff, 1,000 Signs Of Life: Basic ASL For Everyday Conversation is a simple handbook intended for the general reader and student. Simple black-and-white illustrations clearly show 1,000 signs that can be learned quickly and used to communicate with anyone who is familiar with American Sign Language. Organized alphabetically in 17 categories, the common signs covered include those for animals, food, clothes, people, health, body, days of the week, transportation, holidays, religion, thoughts, emotions, and many more of solid practical use. A superb reference, self-teaching, and vocabulary building guide, especially for those new to ASL.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars illustrations are hard to understand, December 7, 2006

By	M. Painter - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am disappointed with this book. While it does cover many everyday words in ASL, the illustrations are not of a good quality. I find anything by Garlic Press to be much clearer. It would have been very helpful if there was verbage describing how to make the sign-then the drawings would have made more sense. This is probobly a good book if you already know ASL and just need a reminder. Otherwise, look for Garlic Press flash cards and books, especially if you are just looking for single words(not to have a conversation).

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT GREAT FOR BEGINNERS !, October 22, 2007

By	ProNATURE "Amazon #1 :-D" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

I'VE GROWN UP IN BOTH HEARING AND DEAF WORLD. I DO LOVE ASL (AMERICA SIGN LANGUAGE) PEOPLE AND HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT DEAF FRIENDS IN MY 33 YEARS OF LIFE. ONE FRIEND WHO GREW UP IN A DEAF SCHOOL WITH THE USE OF ASL UNTIL HE WAS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND REQUESTED TO TRANSFER TO A MAINSTREAM SCHOOL. NOW HE HAS A GREAT JOB IN THE HEARING WORKPLACE BUT IS VERY LONELY AS AN ONLY DEAF EMPLOYEE AND HIS ENGLISH'S STILL POOR TODAY. TEN YEARS AGO, HE FINISHED COLLEGE WITH A DIPLOMA IN 7 YEARS - COULDN'T EARN A HIGHER DEGREE BECAUSE OF HIS POOR ENGLISH LEVEL. HE'S PROFOUNDLY DEAF AND TOLD ME THAT HE WISHED TO GROW UP WITH MORE ENGLISH SIGNING INSTEAD OF ASL FROM THE DEAF INSTITUTION - HIS TEACHER DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HIS ENGLISH PROBLEM! MORE DEAF PEOPLE (ALL DEAF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUND) HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND MANY OF THEM PREFER MORE ENGLISH SIGNING IN ORDER TO CATCHING UP THE HEARING COMPETITION. IT'S GETTING HARDER NOWADAYS FOR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING PEOPLE IN THE WORKING WORLD AND MORE OF THEM HAVE A DESIRE TO FIT IN THE HEARING SOCIAL LIFE.

ANYWAY, THIS ASL BOOK IS *NOT* SUITABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER LEARNED ANY SIGN LANGUAGE OR KNOW VERY LITTLE SIGNS. IT'S MORE LIKE AN ADVANCED SIGN LANGUAGE BOOK. ASL IS GREAT FOR A LATER STAGE OR FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MASTERED OR FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH MANY SIGN LANGUAGE VOCABULARIES WITH THEIR SKILLED HANDS. AS I EXPLAINED EARLIER, MORE DEAF PEOPLE ARE STUCK TO BE IN THE HEARING WORLD FOR WORK OR FOR BENEFITS IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. MANY DEAF PEOPLE WITH BETTER EDUCATION WOULD PREFER AN INTERPRETER WHO SIGN MORE ENGLISH WITH SOME ASL IN THE NORMAL ENGLISH STRUCTURE. PURELY ASL HAS A VERY DIFFERENT ENGLISH GRAMMER STRUCTURE, SO IT'D BE VERY CONFUSING FOR THOSE WITH NORMAL ENGLISH ALL THEIR LIFE TO START WITH ASL. ASL USUALLY IS FOR PURELY DEAF PEOPLE FOR SOCIAL USE. SOME DEAF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO SEE HEARING PEOPLE WITH STRONG ASL BECAUSE THEY GET CONFUSED AND MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE HEARING PEOPLE WERE REALLY DEAF LIKE THEM!

THE BOOK HAS BEEN USED IN A FREE SIGN LANGUAGE CLASS ONCE A WEEK FOR 3 YEARS NOW. AND MANY MANY HEARING PEOPLE TRY TO LEARN ASL RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING FROM THE CLASS. GUESS WHAT? MANY OF THEM HAVE LEFT THE CLASS IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND GIVEN UP. SADLY, MANY OF THEM WON'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEAF PEOPLE IN ANY SIGN LANGUAGE AT ALL! :-(