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How To Write An Essay On American Sign Language

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American Sign Language, or ASL has long been associated with the deaf community, and for good reason, as it was created for those who are deaf, hard of hearing and hearing impaired. After officially being recognized as a language in 1817, it has been the standard used in most of the United States of America, as well as most of Canada. In recent years, however it has been used to teach infants how to speak, and as a tool for nonverbal autistic people to communicate. There are major differences between the ways ASL is used in these situations. Because it is now being used differently, like any language it is evolving to fit the needs and culture of different people groups. Nonverbal people and deaf people experience different challenges in their day to day life they use Sign Language Differently Because most nonverbal people can hear, the function of ASL in their daily life is much different than that of a deaf person. The three most important differences between sign languages in the deaf community and the nonverbal community are the …show more content…
Because deaf people listen with their eyes, eye contact shows they are being respectful, considerate and attentive when another person is signing. It also conveys emotion through facial expression. Facial expression is a key element for proper communication through sign language, it may add emphasis or elaborate an explanation. Without certain facial expressions the meaning of words can be lost This expected behavior cannot be found when a nonverbal person communicates. He or she may have trouble connecting through eye contact. For many people on the autistic spectrum eye contact and distinct facial expression can cause extreme anxiety. The signs may be more muddled and not as clear as a deaf person’s signs. When communicating with someone on the autism spectrum, eye contact cannot be expected, especially in children and those who are on the severe end of the

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