The American Sign Language Handshape Dictionary

by Richard A. Tennant, Richard A. Tennant, Marianne Gluszak Brown

Now, students and others interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL) can look up specific signs without needing to know their meaning in English beforehand. The American Sign Language Handshape Dictionary can help users locate a sign whose meaning they have forgotten, or help them find the meaning of a new sign they have just seen for the first time. Instead of offering a conventional alphabetical arrangement of English words and their corresponding signs, The ASL Handshape Dictionary organizes more than 1,600 ASL signs by 40 basic handshapes and includes detailed descriptions on how to form each sign.
In easy-to-follow style, The ASL Handshape Dictionary explains how signs are used in ASL structure and presents clear, explicit directions on how to identify a sign and its meaning in the specific context of its use.
A complete English word index provides the option of referring to an alphabetical listing of English terms to locate an equivalent sign or choice of signs.

Genres: Reference, Language, Nonfiction

408 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I actually knew even elementary level ASL, this would be a really useful dictionary to have around to help expand my vocabulary.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Sign Language (ASL) is not signed english! It should be learned from native users from the Deaf community. I emphasize this because I see hearing people try to use signs and they "say" something completely different from what they intended.

Now, there are times when you may be at a Deaf social and see a sign that you don't recognize. This dictionary, arranged by the handshape that form signs, makes it easier to try to find that sign. I like that the book includes this additional information: glosses, orientation, location, and movement. The dictionary isn't comprehensive and contains only a few of the regional variations for signs. Overall, I like the arrangement of "reverse" look-up, i.e. handshape to english.

[Angela Rueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended by one of my ASL teachers, and I am finding it to be a very helpful resource. A regular ASL dictionary is fine when you want to know the sign for a given word. But what if you see a sign and want to know what it means? The ASL Handshape Dictionary is perfect for that. I'm also finding it to be a great way to practice the signs I already know. In fact, I've begun grouping the signs in my active vocabulary by handshape rather than alphabetically. This helps me think of the signs as a language in their own right (as indeed they are), and less like a different form of the English language (which, indeed, they are not).

[DisneyfiedReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of it, but I was looking for something more...advanced, I guess you could say. This book is organized in a way more suitable to those who are new to signing, so if that's where you are, try it out!

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friggen AWESOME.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so many words for everyday use I dont ever want to let it go. It doesnt have the words; just, game or huh. So be careful@!

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

there was lots of books that i tried learn sign language with luck. this is a great book to learn from.