Explore, discover, and learn sign language
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From beginners to advanced learners, discover all you need for ASL learning. For fluent and native signers, explore and master ASL and bilingualism. This website/webapp HandSpeak® is a popular, go-to online resource for sign language and Deaf culture in North America for language learning, practice, tutorials and self-study for:
- college students and learners
- language and culture enthusiasts
- interpreters, homeschoolers
- parents of deaf children and deaf/hearing babies
- professionals
- deaf bilinguals and codas
Handwave! I'm Jolanta, the creator of this web app/site since 1995. Very long time, yes! It has been made with endless personal volunteer time, effort, and heart. I hope you will find this sign language resource helpful with your language learning in American Sign Language.
25/30th Anniversary
🎉 HandSpeak® is marking its 25/30 year milestone. It began in the pioneering days of the early Internet and has grown through decades of change. It's fulfilling to see this web app continues to support many signers and learners. 🎉
Sign of the Day
Guess what the ASL word mean? See English translation. Explore this word in the dictionary.
First 100+ Signs for beginners.
Reverse ASL Dictionary
Fingerspelling of the Week 🔒
What does it say? Hover over to see the word. Take me to the page.
Try fingerspelling practice to improve your receptive skill.
New to fingerspelling? Learn the ASL alphabet.
Kid Signing of the Week
Watch a baby sign the ASL word MOUSE in the early language acquisition (handshape, location, and movement).
ASL Numbers
Take a peek what the ASL number is: number.
Sentences PP+
Trivia Question
What is the smallest unit of sign language called?
- A) phoneme
- B) parameter/prime
- C) handshape
- D) movement
Phoneme is to spoken language as parameter/prime is to signed language. Learn more about phonology in sign language.
Feeling lucky? Random Word ¯\__(°_o)__/¯
Video
ASL Writing
Guess what the ASL written word mean? Take a peek. Take me to this word.
Disclaimer [?]
Disclaimer: Written digits of the ASL words are unofficial and they may evolve over time. The purpose is for exploration and discovery only.
Grammar tip
Native and fluent signers look at the configuration (form, movement, and pattern) of a fingerspelled word, not letter by letter. Practice your receptive skill in fingerspelling. Fingerspelling exercise
Signed languages are distinct from spoken languages with their own grammar, structure, and vocabulary. They also include intonation (i.e. facial expressions) and encompasses every linguistic feature found in spoken languages.
"When eyes lock it's safer to walk. Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility." -- 2017 ad on the bus
Father's Day
A celebrating honoring and celebrating fatherhood (everything from expecting dads to grieving dads, stepdads, and pet dads). Learn some ASL vocabulary for Father's Day: Father's Day, GIFT, CELEBRATION, LOVE.
Summer Solistice
The June SUMMER SOLISTICE marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere when the sun reaches its highest and northernmost point in the sky. It is the day with the longest period of SUNLIGHT.
World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the world. It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape war, persecution, or violence and cannot return home safely. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
Celebrate Deaf refugees and former refugees and their achievements in their new home countries.
Random Word ¯\__(°_o)__/¯
What is Sign Language?
Sign language is a natural, full-fledged language in visual-spatial modality. It has all the features of linguistics from phonology and morphology to syntax as found in spoken language. Signed languages are not a universal language; sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL) and French Sign Language (LSF), are distinct languages throughout the world.
American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary language of Deaf people in Deaf communities and Deaf families across the United States and Canada. It's also a fast-growing. popular second language or foreign language for hearing people in North America. Like other languages, ASL has its regional variations.
Language learning
Bilingualism has a number of cognitive benefits. Find out what benefits are for learning sign language. In addition to the benefits of bilingualism, bimodalism and Deafhood also have some extra benefits.
Explore some ways on how to get started with learning sign language.
Deaf community and Deaf culture
Where there is language, there is culture; sign language and Deaf culture are inseparable. Learning sign language and Deaf culture comes with the process of allyship along with awareness toward appreciation and away from cultural appropriation and audism (alliteration, yay!).
Deaf community comprises Deaf people, codas (children of Deaf parents), hard-of-hearing signers, and hearing signers and allies.
Linguistics
Sign language has every linguistic feature from phonology and morphology to syntax as found in spoken language. Numerous studies show that signed languages and spoken languages are equal languages, despite different modalities (visual-spatial and vocal-auditory). They function in the same linguistic regions of the brain. Language acquisition from birth to kindergarten are on the similar timeline.
Testimonials
This sign language site is one of few most reliable resources and references highly recommended by Deaf native signers, including ASL instructors.