What do you think?


The American Sign Language Phrase Book
Slight crease on spine. Crease on front cover. Cover has light edge wear. Page are perfect. Same day shipping.
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 18, 2015
I read The American Sign Language Phrase Book with DVD by Lou Fant and Barbara Bernstein Fant because it was the assigned book for my American Sign Language Class. The first part of the book gives the reader instructions on how to use the book as well as a guide to ASL. While it might be tempting to skip these two sections, they actually hold some good tips for learning the language. There were times when I had a little trouble discerning the movements in the book. I think this is probably inevitable in this type of book as the book uses still drawings to depict movement that is sometimes slight. The DVD is incredibly helpful in learning the signs. I quickly learned in class that, like any language, ASL is a living language which means it changes to meet the needs of those using it. Our instructor pointed out when signs have changed or when new signs have been added, but if you're relying only on the book to learn, you have no way to know about these changes. Anyone interested in learning American Sign Language will benefit from The American Sign Language Phrase Book with DVD.
August 2, 2018
More of a reference book - not total read. B
May 24, 2019
Some of the illustrations are hard to follow, but I like that the signs are provided in themed phrases vice words.
Read
December 30, 2020It's a helpful book. Faced difficulties understanding certain gestures although learned enough to continue to sign .
July 16, 2021
Very informative! Although it is not exactly for people who have never studied ASL. Or if you haven't done any ASL before, this book would not be helpful by itself.
March 10, 2017
Eh, not very helpful and kind of contradicting to what I've learned in class... oh well!
December 29, 2009
This is the first book I recommend to beginning signers. It starts right away teaching everyday conversation (including common vocabulary & in the proper syntax) so the brilliance of communication never diminishes. If you've said before, "Ooh I'd love to learn sign language someday..." then make your wish a reality and just BEGIN! Happy hand-talking!
October 7, 2007
FANTASTIC book on signing; extensive use of facial expressions which make for the 'rich text' that is proper ASL. without it, you're pretty much 'speaking' monotone and 'writing' without punctuation. problem is images are stick people.
March 11, 2013
Skip the sign language dictionaries and go straight for this book if you are an ASL novice. The perfect book to get a quick working vocabulary for basic communicating with a deaf person who uses ASL.
March 14, 2015
Wonderful book for learning ASL. Teaches not only words but phrases, grammar, and telling time. Only complaint is that some of the drawings are not clear and there could have been more everyday words added.
August 3, 2007
I read when writing my undergrad thesis. Fant reveals that sign language isn't word-for-word version of any of its oral counterparts. Best damn ASL book I have ever laid my hands on.
March 29, 2008
extremely useful for picking up everyday phrases and syntax.
June 26, 2009
i am trying to learn sign language, it is very hard but i cando the abc's numbers1-12 ask questions like what it your name and what do you like to do. This book is helping me learn a lot more
July 23, 2009
I bought this book years ago when I was into sign language. Since then, I've stopped caring, but I still wanted to finish the book. I finally did.
June 17, 2011
My son is deaf. I learned ASL about 1971, when we adopted him. My first sign book..was Lou Fant. This is well organized, with a great DVD ..
Want to Read
December 2, 2013interesting
April 21, 2017
Very helpful. I have been teaching myself sign language for about a year now. I read this book online through my library and it was super convenient because in each section there is a video that shows you all of the signs before you see the pictures.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

















