American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL, also Amslan obs., Ameslan obs.) is the dominant sign language in the United States, English-speaking Canada and parts of Mexico. It is also used in the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Mauritania, Kenya, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe. As with other sign languages, its grammar and syntax are distinct from the spoken language(s) in its area of influence. There has been no reliable survey of the number of people who use ASL as their primary language; estimates range from 200,000 to 2 million http://library.gallaudet.edu/dr/faq-asl-rank.html.

External links

• The American Sign Language Linguistics Research Project
• Publications of the ASLLRP
• ASL Resource Site Free online lessons, ASL dictionary, and resources for teachers, students, and parents.
• HandSpeak a leading online website on ASL, International Sign, Gestures, Baby Sign, and more.
• About ASL - article at deaflibrary.org
• Ethnologue entry on ASL
• Videos Dictionary of ASL
• Chimpanzees & Sign Language - article focusing on chimpanzee communication through sign language.