American Sign Language: How ASL Works and How to Learn
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 20 Jan 2009 - Updated: 26 Jun 2026
Publication Type: Informative
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications
Synopsis: This information offers a practical overview of American Sign Language as a complete visual language with its own grammar, punctuation, and sentence order, used primarily by deaf and hard-of-hearing communities along with their families and interpreters. Written by an experienced disability editor, it explains how meaning is conveyed through hand shape, palm orientation, placement, movement, and facial expression - the five elements remembered by the acronym HOLME - and notes ASL's disputed origins and its independence from English. The clear explanations of the manual alphabet, regional variation, and learning pathways make it a dependable starting point for educators, healthcare providers, family members of deaf individuals, and anyone wanting to build communication skills across the disability spectrum.
At a Glance
- 1 - Many of the letter signs are intuitive, such as the L formed by the index finger and thumb, and the V borrowed from the "Victory" gesture
- 2 - The letters J and Z involve motion, with the hand tracing the shape of the letter in the air rather than holding a fixed position
- 3 - A deaf child born to deaf parents who already sign acquires ASL as naturally as a hearing child picks up a spoken language from hearing parents
- Topic Definition: American Sign Language
American Sign Language, commonly abbreviated as ASL, is a complete visual language used chiefly within deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in the United States and parts of Canada. Rather than relying on sound, it conveys meaning through hand shapes, palm orientation, placement, movement, and facial expression, combined with posture and body language. ASL is a fully independent language with its own grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, separate from spoken and written English, and like spoken languages it varies from region to region. Its origins are debated, with many tracing it in part to French Sign Language introduced in America around 1817, while others argue a native signing foundation existed beforehand.
Introduction
American Sign Language (ASL) is a language that uses physical means of communication, such as body language and lip patterns, instead of oral sound in order to communicate.
American Sign Language is a complete language. It is very complex and uses motions of the hands to make signs and facial expressions, and posture to communicate. Usually referred to as ASL, the language is a way to use hand movements, gestures, and facial expressions to convey thoughts.
Many people find sign language fascinating. While other languages take years to learn, American Sign Language can be taught in a much shorter time period. It is one of the easiest languages to learn because most of the signs were developed to mimic the actual word or phrase it is representing. Even the alphabet signs look like the letters of the English alphabet.
The exact beginnings of ASL are not clear. Many people believe that ASL came mostly from French Sign Language (FSL). Others claim that the foundation for ASL existed before FSL was introduced in America in 1817.
Main Content
Even though ASL is used in America, it is a language completely separate from English. It contains all the fundamental features a language needs to function on its own as it has its own rules for grammar, punctuation, and sentence order.
The person simultaneously uses their hands to show shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or the body, and also facial expressions to convey the message or express thoughts. American sign languages as in other sign languages is used mostly among the deaf, which can include interpreters and friends and families of deaf people as well as people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Just as is the case of spoken language, sign language also differs from one region to another.
Some of the letters are very intuitive, with the symbol for the letter looking exactly like the letter itself. For example, the letter L is made by extending the index finger of the right hand straight up with the thumb pointing to your left. To you, it looks like a backwards L, but to the person you're signing, it looks exactly like the letter L. The same thing with the letter V, which is actually made by giving the "Victory" sign that is used for any battle or war.
One uses dominantly the hand with the palm facing the viewer. The hand should remain in place. It can slightly drift from the mid line when a text is being written in the air. There should be short pauses between words when dealing with long sentences. Excessive jewelery or long nails can distract some people. When spelling acronyms, the letters are moved along a small circle to show that they are read together.
A deaf child who is born to deaf parents who already use ASL will begin to acquire ASL as naturally as a hearing child picks up spoken language from hearing parents. The earlier any child is exposed to and begins to acquire sign language, the better that child's communication skills will become.
When you study ASL you learn the elements of the language including:
- Hand-shape
- Palm Orientation
- Place of Articulation
- Movement
- Facial Expression
All of these elements go by the acronym HOLME.
When you are learning American Sign Language you will want to learn the alphabet first. There are many places that you can learn the alphabet. There are online resources, books, DVD's, and other resources that will help you learn have to sign the alphabet. The next stage is actually learning the sign for the word or the phrase.
Learning American Sign Language is a very useful thing to do. It can help you personally and professionally as well as giving you a sense of accomplishment. The easiest way to learn ASL is to take the Learn American Sign Language program.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: It is easy to think of sign language as a tool reserved for necessity, but its real reach shows when hearing people take it up out of genuine interest rather than obligation. Learning even the alphabet opens a door that has long kept deaf and hearing communities on opposite sides, and the visual-spatial nature of ASL may carry cognitive benefits that researchers are still working to map. Treated less as a specialized accommodation and more as another form of multilingualism, ASL has a place in classrooms, clinics, and living rooms well beyond the deaf community that built and sustains it.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.