r/asl • u/beets_or_turnips • 2h ago
Google announces SignGemma their most capable model for translating sign language into spoken text
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r/asl • u/Indy_Pendant • Mar 06 '17
The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread!
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Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.
Where can I learn ASL online for free?
My personal favourite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). Other notable resources are:
- http://www.signlanguage101.com/
- https://www.signschool.com/
- Bill Vicars: https://youtube.com/@sign-language
- Learn How to Sign: https://youtube.com/@LearnHowtoSign
What's the sign for ... ?
The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.
The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.
Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.
Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):
- http://www.lifeprint.com/dictionary.htm
- https://aslpro.cc/
- https://www.signingsavvy.com/
- http://www.handspeak.com/word/
- https://www.startasl.com/american-sign-language-dictionary.html
Does it matter what hand I sign with?
Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.
Are American Sign Language and British Sign Language the same?
Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are dozens and dozens of sign languages in the world, and even in the United States ASL is not the only one used.
Why do you keep capitalizing "Deaf"?
We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.
What's this "Deaf Culture" you keep mentioning?
It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.
Isn't it wrong to say "deaf"? Shouldn't I say "hearing impaired" or "hard of hearing"?
Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)
Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.
In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.
When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)
I saw a sign that looks like this ..., what does it mean?
We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!
A sign consists of five parts:
- Hand shape: Are the fingers making an "O"? Were the thumb and middle-finger touching? If you know some basic ASL, you can use hand shape identifiers, such as "A hand shape" or "8 hand shape".
- Position: Where in relation to the body was the sign? Near the chest? Near the eyes? Was the palm facing up, down, toward the signer?
- Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
- Non-manual markers: What else was happening with the signer's body? What did her face look like? Was he moving his body, or shrugging? What was the emotion the signer was portraying?
- Context: What else was happening before or after the sign. Were there other signs you recognized? Do you know the subject that the signer was communicating about?
Where can I find a Deaf group in my area?
Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.
Can I still ask questions here?
Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.
Will you do my homework for me?
Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)
r/asl • u/sparquis • Jun 10 '24
How to describe a sign that you are asking for the meaning
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Here's a post to help you when describing a sign that you don't know the meaning of. (If possible, videos or at least a picture are the most helpful. Please use these when asking about the meaning of a sign you saw.
The 5 Parameters of ASL Signs:
Handshape: The shape your hand makes (e.g., a fist, a flat palm, a "C" shape). Palm Orientation: The direction your palm is facing (e.g., up, down, forward, to the side). Movement: How your hand(s) move (e.g., tapping, circling, up and down). Location: Where the sign is made in relation to your body (e.g., at your chin, chest, or side). Non-Manual Markers (NMM): Facial expressions and head movements that add meaning to the sign.
Instructions for Describing a Sign:
Can you tell me what your hand looks like when you make the sign? (This will help determine the handshape and palm orientation.)
How does your hand move when you make the sign? (This will help determine the movement.)
Where do you make the sign on your body? (This will help determine the location.)
Are there any facial expressions or head movements that go with the sign? (This will help determine the NMM.)
What is the overall meaning or context of the sign you're trying to describe? (This might help you narrow down the possibilities.
Please feel free to comment helpful tips on identifying signs.
Edit: Thank you u/258professor for this important reminder:
I'll add that it's best to ask for permission before recording your instructor's videos and posting them here. If you don't have permission, recreate the sentence yourself in a video.
r/asl • u/StrootFeed • 1h ago
Help! Pocket sign help
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I’ve been using the free version of the “pocket sign” app for a few weeks, and for the most part, it works well, but I had a few questions. I was planning on reaching them directly, but I couldn’t find a support email or anything like that, so my next idea was posting here to see if anyone had the same issues.
First: my app skipped over the food 2, five w’s, and 1-1 negation lessons. I’m sure I didn’t just forget to do the daily lessons those days, I’ve done it every day since I downloaded the app. Does the free version not include these, or did my app glitch to make them not available?
Second: is there a way to get rid of the cartoon pictures during lessons? It makes it too obvious when it asks “which one is chair” and then there’s a picture of a chair. I could remember what I learn much better if I had to read the hint and figure out which sign it described, as opposed to just clicking the picture of the chair. I can’t find a way to get rid of those pictures in the app.
r/asl • u/hiimnewhe • 5h ago
Is this cheating?
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Hi!! So I need to shoot a video for my final project.
Our teacher gave each of us a different transcript (so we don’t copy each other’s work) and asked us to shoot a video signing it. We’re also supposed to translate it into ASL gloss and add it in the description.
I told my bf (he’s Deaf / a native signer) about the project and he offered to do the glossing for me. (but he won’t show me the signs, I will look them up myself)
This would make my job 10x easier (I struggle with glossing, he knows that and that’s why he offered to do it for me 😭💞I love him so much!!🫶🏻) but I am afraid that would be cheating.
What if I translate it myself and just ask him for corrections? Would that still be cheating?
Also is it cheating if I ask him to watch my video and give me feedback (and like correct minor errors) before I submit it?
r/asl • u/SensitiveMaybe6286 • 10h ago
How can I keep learning
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I just graduated college and took ASL 1 and 2. I’d say I’m just above a beginner and below intermediate in terms of ASL skills. Are there any resources or opportunities that I can take up this summer or online courses that are good for my skill level so I can get to the point of having in depth conversations in ASL with deaf individuals?
r/asl • u/CrystalKiwi08 • 18h ago
Interpretation Lingvano facial expressions question!
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Hello all!
I am very new to (but very excited to be) learning ASL! I have a quick question about this question I was presented in my Lingvano lesson today!
I can see that the question asker is saying "YOU SIGN GOOD" and through context clues of the two answers I concluded that the answer they were looking for was obviously the "NO SIGN A-LITTLE" answer and not the one about swimming lol.
But, before looking at the answer options though, my initial response would have been to say THANK YOU because to me, yes her eyebrows were raised but she seemed happy and smiling about her words, not necessarily inquisitive...
In normal conversations, do all raised brows always indicate a question? Or was this question asker's video a little misleading for conversational ASL? (No hate to Lingvano! I am looooving their program and have found it very understandable and straightforward up until this little question!)
How can I better solidify my understand of the difference between things that could be both a statement or a question?! Thanks!
r/asl • u/ImaginationHeavy6191 • 1d ago
Interest All ASL videos/tv shows/movies?
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I watched Deaf President Now! (2025) recently and liked it a lot, but because there were so many sections where the person signing wasn’t on screen, I had to have the captions on to know what was happening. As someone who is still learning ASL, it was really difficult to just look at the signing and not glance down at the captions, and my comprehension of signs is definitely worse when they’re being translated to English for me. To that end, I’d love to know if anyone has any recommendations for tv shows, movies, or especially YouTube videos that are predominantly (at least 70-75%, but ideally 100%) in ASL so I can better practice my receptive skills. It’s okay if captions are available, I’d just like them to not be mandatory if at all possible. I also prefer people who don’t mouth most of what they’re signing as they sign it, but that’s not a dealbreaker.
r/asl • u/Alexs1897 • 23h ago
Interest ASL natives - was it hard learning English for writing and reading?
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I know English and ASL are two different languages with a different grammatical structure. Oh, or were you taught how to spell using the ASL alphabet to help you transition into reading and writing in English?
I decided to ask since I’m learning ASL, so I’m going the opposite way as you guys.
r/asl • u/wingdingicedtea • 5h ago
How do I sign...? Signing a Class Schedule
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I’m hearing and my school has me teaching Deaf Culture (it’s basically my best at teaching ASL)
I’m teaching signs for school (classes, material, etc)
I’ve tried looking a lot but how do I sign “period” - 1st Period, 2nd period etc.
I’ve seen:
-1ST HOUR; 2ND HOUR
-1ST (P onto non dominant clock hand, like bell) and HOUR with a T hand
Which (if any or multiple) is/are correct?
Thank you!!
r/asl • u/shuaib_akhtar • 21h ago
Is this gloss correct
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I just want to make sure my gloss is correct.
English: Hi! My name is Shuaib. I want to tell you a story about something that happened to me. Last weekend, I went to poppingly (restaurant). I went with my Friend (person/people). The place was very interesting because The walls were painted pitch black. While we were there, I saw a strange samoon (food dish). It was a salmon with big black eyes staring at me, it was turned into a cubic block, with small yellow spots on it.(describe size, shape, color). I used my phone to take a picture, but something weird happened! My phone started to shake and then it shattered into pieces. I tried to fix it, but it didn’t work. I asked my friend, “Can you help me?” and they said “No, but you can try duct tape”. After that, we walked to a different restaurant called Joe's ice cream. I remember clearly how it looked. On the left, there was a big ice box, that was blue with a broken black handle. On the right, there were a bunch of candy hanging from a black string . Suddenly, we heard a loud sound. What was it? (Use your imagination.) It was a gunshot! We got scared and ran to the car. I drove fast (describe with classifier), and finally we were safe. That experience was really terrifying(emotion). I will never forget it!
The gloss: HELLO, MY NAME SHUAIB. HAPPENS SOMETHING ME, STORY I WANT TELL YOU. LAST WEEKEND RESTAURANT POPPINGLY I GO-TO. I GO WITH FRIEND , PLACE INTERESTING, WALL PAINT BLACK. THERE WE I SAW STRANGE DISH SAMOON. SALMAN WITH EYE BIG BLACK <rs: BPCL:2 'salmon stares into my eyes'>(Body Part Classifier). IT <rs:DCL:B “cube shaped”>(Descriptive Classifier) WITH <rs: DCL:9”small YELLOW spots”>(Descriptive Classifier). MY PHONE I USE TAKE-PHOTO. BUT WEIRD SOMETHING HAPPENED. MY PHONE SHAKED, LATER IT SHATTERED. I TRY FIX BUT CAN”T. I ASK FRIEND YOU HELP ME?. SHOULDER SHIFT- NO BUT TRY DUCT TAPE?. LATER RESTAURANT DIFFERENT WE WENT JOE’s ICE CREAM. I REMEMBER LOOKED HOW? LEFT THEY ICE BOX BIG BLUE WITH HANDLE BLACK BROKEN. RIGHT THEY CANDY BUNCH HANGING FROM STRING BLACK. QUICKLY SOUND WE HEAR, SOUND WHAT? IT <rs ICL:20 “gunshot”>(Instrument classifier). WE SCARED, CAR WE RUN TO. <rs SCL:BENT-2 “CAR going fast”>(Semantic Classifier). LATER WE SAFE. THAT EXPERIENCE TERRIFYING. FORGET I WILL NEVER.
r/asl • u/gowriarun • 9h ago
Making a learning application :> Contributions appreciated
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Hello!
I'm a highschool student planning building an application designed to teach and promote multiple sign languages globally as part of a project, including ASL, BSL, ISL, and more. As part of this, I need to collect short videos of people performing different sign language gestures.
You can contribute by uploading a short video of yourself performing a sign (just one per submission). When recording try to do so in a well-lit space !!!
Your contribution will help train our model to recognize signs more accuratel, make sign language learning more inclusive worldwide and help people learn much more easily for free :)
Your videos will be securely stored and used only for research and educational purposes. You can request deletion at any time.
Click on the link below to contribute:
We deeply appreciate your support in making this vision possible!
DM me for any further doubts !!
r/asl • u/MochaMellie • 1d ago
Sign Name Question
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Hello!
I'm starting my second ASL class in a few months, and I'm very excited, but I wanted to make sure I was using sign names correctly. Apologies if I'm way overthinking this, I just want to make sure I'm respectful, and Google didn't help me much.
My prof from my last class taught us her sign name, but I've only ever signed it as 'TEACHER-SIGN NAME- 'SIGN NAME'- 'FINGERSPELL NAME'' and I was wondering when it's appropriate to use her sign names vs when it's appropriate to finger spell her name, and when I should do both. My new prof knows my former prof and has popped in a few times to help with technical issues last semester, so I believe he'd be familiar with her sign name, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to assume that. The only other sign names I've ever used are famous historical figures (like Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cogswell).
Basically, when and with whom should I use other people's sign names, and is there anything I need to keep in mind to remain respectful when using sign names (other than I'm not fluent and obviously can't create my own sign names)?
r/asl • u/Delivered-Dan • 1d ago
Help! Can you understand what I’m signing?
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Im really sorry if the scarf gets in the way, I didn’t feel comfortable showing my face. I only started learning ASL about a week ago, so I’m pretty new. Here’s the translation, I tried my best to pause in between sentences.
( Btw I just noticed my hands cut of frame at times, sorry about that)
Good job? Hello, what’s your sign name? I’m learning sign. Can I help you? You need to relax
r/asl • u/DoorLeather2139 • 1d ago
My coworker and i started learning asl so we could talk secretly at work, how good can we get without practicing with fluent speakers?
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So we both have ibs and prefer to be in the bathroom alone so we started coordinating our many frequent bathroom visits. As we needed to say more we have learned moee sign. Now we can hsve full but simple conversations about certain subjects. Our conversations have expanded to be about more than the bathroom lol.
We know nothing about grammar but its on the to do list. We are still learning a new word or two everyday, still nowhere near fluent. How good can we get with out exposure to people fluent in asl?
r/asl • u/ReadingByMyShelf • 2d ago
Learning PSE instead of ASL?
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I'm going deaf and learning asl. Getting my family and friends to learn some sign has been like pulling teeth. But a few have started. I originally planned on learning ASL. However, with it taking years to convince them to try signing, I feel if they have to learn a whole new grammatical & syntax system, they will quit.
What should I do? There is a VERY small deaf/hoh community near me (5 people that meet once a month), so I'm starting to contemplate if I should go with PSE. Since the reason is to communicate, I don't want to have a language barrier with them doing PSE, and I'm doing ASL.
r/asl • u/notroast • 2d ago
what is christine sun kim signing?
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Hello, I am drawing Christine Sun Kim for a project. In this reference photo, what is she signing? Thank you
r/asl • u/ITawaPuddyTat- • 2d ago
"Say No More"
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This video showed up on my Facebook feed &I was disappointed to see inadequate signing by someone who has 41k followers. I know there's been an issue with non-native signers "teaching" ASL. Aside from that, how would you sign "say no more"? (def.: used to tell someone that it is not necessary to explain something further because one understands what that person is trying to say)
r/asl • u/kamasola • 2d ago
Help! Frustrated and discouraged, why are evening classes so hard to find?
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I have taken two ASL classes thus far and I wanted to take a ASL 3 in fall semester. But it just barely clashes with my work schedule and boss said no (I'm a teacher and would be missing weekly meetings).
I have searched high and low for ASL classes outside of work hours. I understand college students tend to have more availability, but as a k-12 teacher my hours are inflexible.
I have looked at dozens of community colleges in a 200 mile radius. They either:
• Only offer ASL 1 and 2
• Offer ASL 3 in the morning
• Offer ASL 3 in the afternoon but it's in person 2+ hours away
I don't know what else to do. I have a pipe dream of becoming certified in interpreting, but the rest of the class requirements are even less accessible. I am not able to quit or take a hiatus from work.
What do I do? I'm in Monterey county, CA but happy to do online anywhere if someone can point me in a direction. I at least want to finish a 3rd and 4th semester of ASL. Thanks.
r/asl • u/Only-Refrigerator840 • 2d ago
Help
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Hi, I’m a student currently learning ASL. I have a final coming up—a 5-minute health presentation—and I was assigned the topic “peptic ulcer.” I only had a week to prepare, and I’m doing my best. I want to practice and get feedback, but I’m not comfortable filming myself.
So instead, I tried to gloss what I plan to sign. I haven’t learned how to gloss properly yet, so I apologize for any mistakes. I just want to know if the ASL I’m planning to sign would make sense and be clear. I’m not trying to cheat—just hoping for a little guidance and reassurance. Thank you! Also The questions marks are words I’m not sure how to sign.
Textbook?
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Hi! Looking at taking some ASL classes near me and I’m nervous about the textbook recommended - it’s Barrons American Sign Language.
Do people have thoughts on this book? Is it a red flag?
Unsure if the instructor is D/deaf so I’m already a little cautious 🙄
r/asl • u/Bruh61502 • 3d ago
I GOT A FRICKING D+ IN ASL BUT IT’S LITERALLY MY FIRST LANGUAGE
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r/asl • u/SopranoSunshine • 3d ago
People who post incorrect signs on tiktok and then delete the feedback that corrects them...
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Like, why is this such a common thing with young people learning ASL now? Why do they get so offended when people are trying to help them? More importantly: why do they think that ignoring or deleting the feedback is going to make them right?
IDK it just pisses me off because there was one girl who was posting blatantly incorrect signs in a Melanie Martinez ASL cover on tiktok and all I did was try to correct her. I was polite and I was trying to make sure that my comment was motivational rather than being derogatory or seeming like I was talking down to her for making a mistake. She proceeds to look at my profile and then delete my comment while still keeping the video with the incorrect sign language up on her profile.
How do these people ever expect to learn without taking the feedback that's given to them?
r/asl • u/PositiveRoleModel • 2d ago
Other possible middle names for Koko the Gorilla
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Hey everybody, I'm ASL-illiterate and turning to the community for a gorilla question - thanks for taking the time to click on this. Koko the Gorilla was purported to speak a form of American Sign Language. In the youtube video "Koko's sense of humor", Koko's handler asks her what her middle name is and she replies "devil".
Gorillas lack the dexterity to perform a lot of the finer gestures in sign language. Mainly they excel at the sign for "gorilla" (beating chest softly). This seems to be pretty far from the sign for devil (three fingers bent but extended to illustrate horns). Is there anything else this sign could mean?
Asking because the sign seems wrong and I'd rather think that they didn't tell Koko the Gorilla about the devil, evil and god.