Tens of millions of people in America struggle with some form of hearing loss or hearing difficulty. Millions more have trouble communicating verbally. While we live in a world where text-based communications are easier than ever before, texts aren’t always an effective form of conversation, especially for interactions containing sarcasm or jokes. Texts can also be seen as isolating, or impersonal to many. As such, it’s not reasonable to expect individuals unable to communicate verbally to rely solely on text.
American Sign Language, often abbreviated as “ASL”, is a language spoken mainly in the United States and English-speaking Canada that uses hand gestures and facial expressions instead of vocalizations. As such, it has seen use mainly in the deaf/hard of hearing communities as well as non-verbal communities. ASL has its own grammar and is learned as easily as any other language. Children raised in houses where ASL is the primary language have the same rate of language acquisition as children in households where spoken language is the primary form of communication. Children who learn ASL at a young age can potentially communicate with parents earlier than children who do not.
One of the main reasons to learn ASL is to be accessible to deaf/hard of hearing or non-verbal individuals and communities. People should not have to worry about whether or not they will have difficulty ordering food, going to the mall, etc. Knowing even a little bit of ASL could make someone else’s day just a little bit easier. If you work in retail, perhaps focusing on learning phrases related to prices, items, sizes, or locations would be best. If you work in a doctor’s office, learning words that explain symptoms could help.
Outside of accessibility, ASL can help in times where verbal communication isn’t reasonable or preferred. While watching a movie or studying in a library, silence is expected. In this case, ASL would be the best way to tell a friend you’re going to the bathroom or asking if they want any snacks while you’re up. As concerts and music festivals start to return, many will find that trying to say anything is impossible due to the noise. ASL could again, help communicate where one person is going or what the next plan is. Most of us have had a sore throat that hurts when we talk, so instead of putting more stress on ourselves when sick, we could use ASL.
Additionally, learning any sign language trains your brain to think in a new way. Much like learning to read or learning a new languages exercises your brain, so does learning ASL. When you learn ASL you learn a new system of grammar, new words, new jokes, and a new way to convey a message.
