I don’t advise learning ASL from an on-line site – this language is different from others and does not lend itself well to solitary learning the way spoken languages do. It’s not the type of language that you can pick up easily from reading a book or looking at internet sites. ASL is a manual-visual language and the linguistic/grammatical rules are different. Learning such rules properly is best done in an interactive manner with other individuals – so that you can observe one another (just as you would in a true ASL conversation) and develop your expressive and receptive skills.

Yes, there are some resources out there, and there are also some pretty good videos. These can be a tool for studying, but they don’t take the place of a good class with a qualified instructor. I always encourage anyone interested in learning ASL to take an actual class, and to get involved with the Deaf Community. The immersion process really is the best for this language – you can get better feedback that way. Many beginning students will often make errors which usually relate to one of the major components of signing – handshape, movement, location, or direction. The best way to correct such errors is with observation and feedback.

You can supplement your classroom instruction by watching sign language videos – there are plenty of them on YouTube, and your library may have actual videos for learning ASL. You might want to contact your local colleges and tech schools to see if they offer classes, or check out an agency which provides services for the Deaf Community. Most states do have a state Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing that might be able to refer you to a local resource, and might have a lending library with videos, etc.

Good luck with your studies!

Furthermore, as a Pagan – though not a Wiccan – I think it would be wonderful if signs did exist for “Wiccan”, “Pagan”, so on and so forth in ASL. However, I also agree with your comment that people who may use these terms for the sake of novelty are being rather rude to the Deaf community.

I plan to continue to read your blog and look forward to seeing more posts by you! Also, do you know of any particularly good online resources I could use in order to learn ASL? I’m aware this will be a longtime dedication and probably not the most easy, but after dealing with my ignorant Speech teacher and seeing how she reacted towards my classmate, I think it’s well worth the effort, if only to converse and not express my own religious beliefs.

Hope things are going wonderfully for you. All the power in the world to you, Ocean!
~M

I began to type up a response for you…and then I realized as it got a bit lengthy that perhaps it would better serve as the makings of yet a new post here at the Crossroads.

So I’m not ignoring you by any means…I’m just trying to determine the best way to address your question, especially since it is one that I do get asked fairly often.

Keep checking back – I hope to have it up within the next few weeks! (I have a number of different projects on my plate right now, so I can’t give an accurate estimate on how soon I can get such a post written and put up…)