During the past decades, American Sign Language developed mainly through face-to-face interaction. Though at present, a new signed word can easily spread like wildfire on social website platforms such as YouTube or TikTok.
This post looks at some of the developments taking place across ASL, several of which result from the wide-spread accessibility to mobile phones and video technology. These types of technologies have brought about a huge blossoming of American Sign Language interactions.
Primary Development of American Sign Language
American Sign Language was developed in the early 19th century at the American School for the Deaf (ASD) in West Hartford, Connecticut, through language contact with English. Since then, the use of ASL has been widely disseminated by Deaf schools and Deaf community groups across the United States and beyond.
During its early years, French Sign Language significantly affected American Sign Language, but it wasn't standardized or formalized until 1817. The volume of ASL users these days is approximated at 500,000, but it could very well be much higher.
Ways of Learning ASL Now Versus Before
Within the past decades, getting face-to-face instruction from educators, tutors, friends, or family members was essentially the only method to learn ASL. But at the present time, many options for learning the language are offered, such as the following.
- Attending an in-person traditional classroom setting
- Enrolling in an online course
- Learning by means of video-based online resources
- Registering in a Deaf club or an ASL group
- Going to a Deaf café
- Getting a private instructor
- Watching and mimicking interpreters
- Using an educational software and
- Being taught by Deaf friends or family members
Whatever approach to learning ASL you decide on, it is essential to have a great time and work together regularly with many other ASL users. Doing so will increase your language acquisition and facilitate your accessibility to the D/HoH community.
Impact of Phones on ASL
The cell phone has had a considerably less remarkable influence on American Sign Language. However, the moment mobile phones started to incorporate video screens (i.e. smartphones),this situation changed immensely.
Impact of Video on ASL
Video has allowed ASL users to get in touch more easily and teach the language to a lot of people. What's more, it increases the possiblity to rapidly create and circulate completely new signs that mirror either changes in technology or completely new modes of acting and thinking.
Impact of Social Media on ASL
Presently, flourishing ASL communities exist on TikTok, YouTube, and various other social media platforms.
The Current State of American Sign Language
Shrinking of Signs
To fit the limited spaces of cell phone and video displays, words generally signed with both hands might now be signed with just one. These particular types of changes only sit well with some ASL users.
New Signed Words
In earlier times, ASL evolved by means of face-to-face interaction. At present, a completely new signed word propagates rapidly on social media platforms.
Preserving American Sign Language
Regardless of what issues might arise as ASL evolves, preserving the language for future generations is really important. Doing this can help to safeguard Deaf culture and ensure that Deaf/HoH individuals have access to their method of self-expression and communication in the decades to come.
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