American Sign Language Dictionary

by Martin L.A. Sternberg

An illustrated abridgment of the most authoritative reference book on sign language, with well-written and easily understood instructions for the use of each sign. More than 5,000 signs and 8,000 illustrations. And now includes more than 500 new signs and 1,500 new illustrations.

Genres: Reference, Language, Nonfiction, Education, Textbooks

800 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 1998

Reviews

[Canoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as a supplement to my baby signing book. It's amazing what the baby signing books don't have in them. For instance, not all of them have "grandma" and "grandpa" and I haven't found one yet that has "aunt" and "uncle" in it. I haven't found "walk" (as in, let's go for a walk) in most of them. So, this was exactly what I was looking for.

[Joyce Jacobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In recent weeks, I have gotten into learning more about the beautiful language that is American Sign Language, and the American Sign Language Dictionary got recommended to me by an ASL interpreter and teacher. It is a thick volume with more than 772 pages filled with detailed instructions on how to form a wide array of signs. And while learning ASL, like most kinds of Sign Language, is best done through in-person interactions, this dictionary makes for a perfect reference guide.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t read this of course but it is an awesome reference.

[Allie Meador]

Title (APA): American Sign Language Dictionary. (1998). Harper Perennial.
Citation by: Allie Meador
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: 419 STE
Paperback: 800 Pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial; Rev Abridged edition (November 4, 1998)
Author: Martin L.A. Sternberg
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062736345
ISBN-13: 978-0062736345
Product Dimension: 6.6 x 9.1 inches
Cost: $36.63
Content/Scope:
• An illustrated abridgment of the most authoritative reference book on sign language, with well-written and easily understood instructions for the use of each sign. More than 5,000 signs and 8,000 illustrations. And now includes more than 500 new signs and 1,500 new illustrations.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias:
• Sternberg has been deaf since the age of seven. He has spent most of his career working with deaf people.
Arrangement/Presentation:
• This book is made up of more than 5,000 signs and 8,000 illustrations.
Relation to other Works:
• This is Sternberg’s fourth book over sign language.
Accessibility/Diversity:
• This book is an illustrated and written book with easy to understand instructions. As well as a being arranged alphabetically and having a table of contents and index page to help navigate through the book.
Professional Review:
• http://www.amazon.com/American-Sign-L....
Review
"A fabulous reference book, a must for everybody's library." -- -- Dorothy Chler, President, Coalition of Deaf Educators
"An abridged edition of 'the most comprehensive and clearly written dictionary of sign language ever published.'" -- -- Los Angeles Times
"An invaluable and indispensable tool for the student of American Sign Language. Martin Sternberg has done an excellent job." -- -- I. King Jordan, President, Gallaudet University
"Martin Sternberg has done a magnificent job of opening the doors to the resplendence and distictiveness of our visual language." -- -- Bernard Bragg, Internationally Renowed Deaf Actor and Mime
"Your ASL dictionary is Webster's for ASL. There is no more comprehensive and authorative source. -- -- Harlan Lane, author of, When the Mind Hears and The Mask of Benevolence
"A fabulous reference book, a must for everybody's library." -- Dorothy Chler, President, Coalition of Deaf Educators
"An abridged edition of 'the most comprehensive and clearly written dictionary of sign language ever published.'" -- Los Angeles Times
"An invaluable and indispensable tool for the student of American Sign Language. Martin Sternberg has done an excellent job." -- I. King Jordan, President, Gallaudet University
"Four thumbs up! Martin Sterberg's intelligence and passion for his subject gleams in this monumental work." -- David Hays, Founding Artistic Director, The National Theatre of the Deaf
"Martin Sternberg has done a magnificent job of opening the doors to the resplendence and distictiveness of our visual language." -- Bernard Bragg, Internationally Renowed Deaf Actor and Mime
 

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I acquired this book to assist me with talking to a student I had to tutor who was deaf. She was unable to be helped by anyone else in the environment because they were not prepared for a student with learning disabilities and deafness. I was able to piece together sentences with this books assistance. It did lack some of what I needed but overall it was extremely useful. Without this book I would not have been able to teach her so much.

She got so excited when I first showed her the book I brought and did a bit of sign language to explain what it was. When she realized how much I was doing to talk to her she was jumping up and down hugging me. I've never seen someone do happy and probably never will ever again. This book aided me to help my sign language grow. I am now proud to say that I am proficient in it with no professional training. With this book and the girl I worked with, sign language was easy. If you want to learn it I would suggest this book and getting together with someone who knows sign language like I did. Amazing book for anyone! I recommend highly!

Happy Reading!

[Dianna Wolf]

Sternberg, M. A. (1998). American Sign Language: a comprehensive dictionary Unabridged;. HarperCollins Pubs.

Citation by: Dianna Wolf

Type of Reference: Dictionary

Call Number: Ref 419

Content/Scope: A dictionary with more than 7,000 signs and 12,000 illustrations.

Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book was classified as "Most Highly Recommended" by "Middle and Junior High Core Collection (H. W. Wilson)." This list is selected and recommended by collection development specialists in library service to young people.

Arrangement/Presentation: The book is arranged alphabetically.

Relation to other works: This book is similar to other sign language dictionaries.

Timeliness/Permanence: Book was published in 1998, but the content does not change often since it is a dictionary.

Accessibility/Diversity: The book provides a resource to this to learn sign language.

Cost:$60

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't exactly what I was looking for. The descriptions of the signs are very clear and it has lots of them. I am using signs with my one-year-old son and the selection of words isn't the best for a baby. It doesn't have a sign for "juice" or "peach" for example. So it just doesn't serve my purpose as well as I thought it would.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with a lot of vocabulary! This adds to my deaf culture/sign language area of the bookshelf. I'm deaf, so I'm always interested in different books including this one which is organized with the signs and the signs feel very modern. My husband is hearing. So we would have sign language lessons for him. This is a great book for that tutor/teacher setting.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're wanting to learn ASL, this is one of the best books to have. It has *almost* every word I've needed in it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great English to ASL dictionary. Clear pictures and instructions. Very helpful when learning Sign Language.

[Basil · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent!!!

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bible for Interpreters.

[Bron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really concise and clear. Great resource to have when I am studying and practicing! And of course when my boyfriend asks me random fun words!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful learning ASL.

[Dioscita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably the one we use the most.

[Alissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. Not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination.

[Amanda Yarsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best dictionary :)

[Elgin Jude]

hi i want to read