American Sign Language is...
"A visually perceived language based on a naturally evolved system of articulated hand gestures and their placement relative to the body, along with non-manual markers such as facial expressions, head movements, shoulder raises, mouth morphemes, etc.."
-- William Vicars 2007
"A visually perceived language based on a naturally evolved system of articulated hand gestures and their placement relative to the body, along with non-manual markers such as facial expressions, head movements, shoulder raises, mouth morphemes, etc.."
-- William Vicars 2007
ASL Terminology:
The Deaf world and the field of ASL studies have a specialized lingo (vocabulary). I'm not talking about ASL signs, I'm talking about phrases and topics in ASL or English that are used to discuss ASL and the Deaf Community.. For example, in the Deaf Community it is common to refer to non-Deaf people as "Hearing" or "Hearing people."
We refer to a non-Deaf (public) school by using the signs "HEARING SCHOOL" which are interpreted as meaning "a public school."
Our children who can hear are known as "CODAs." (Child of Deaf Adult). These individuals grow up "hearing" on the outside, but are culturally Deaf inside (or bicultural -- having an awareness of both Hearing and Deaf culture.)
Usage note for "deaf" vs "Deaf": (I tend to use the following approach)
deaf: deaf (with a lowercase "d")
The condition of partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing to the extent that one cannot understand speech for everyday communication purposes. (For example, you can't hear well enough to use the phone on a consistent basis.)
Deaf: Deaf (with a capital "D") refers to embracing the cultural norms, beliefs, and values of the Deaf Community. The term "Deaf" should be capitalized when it is used as a shortened reference to being a member of the Deaf Community.
Example: He is Deaf. (Meaning that he is a member of the Deaf Community.)
Example: He is deaf. (Meaning that he is lacking in the sense of hearing.)
-- William Vicars, www.lifeprint.com
About Me...
Hello and welcome to our ASL website. As the instructor I would like to let you know a little about myself.
My name is Steve Hubble and I love American Sign Language. When I was in college (many, many years ago) The University of Arizona required a foreign language component for graduation and I had no interest in their offerings. That is, until I came across ASL at our community college (Pima Community College) and I was intrigued.
From my very first class I was hooked! The language just seemed to come to life before my eyes and the visual aspect was quite beautiful. Even though I was born "Hearing," I felt as though I was home. Hearing and Deaf instructors alike also shared a love for the language and culture and they passed it on to their students.
I had found my career and was ready to be an interpreter, but my ears had other plans. As I continued toward the interpreter training program it became more and more difficult to hear. In a 'Disabilities Awareness' class we visited an audiology office and I was informed that I had lost a significant portion of my hearing - mainly in the upper ranges. Hearing well enough to interpret became increasingly difficult as my condition continued to worsen. Unfortunately I did not become an interpreter, but I took every ASL related class that I could.
Although I have taught ASL in other schools, I was given the opportunity to teach what I loved here at Tucson Country Day School and jumped at the chance. Most of the curriculum in my ASL class is my own, but as I began to look around at what others were doing I came across Bill Vicars' website and he offered so much for free. In a few instances, the old 'why recreate the wheel' adage fit well and I borrowed from him. Eventually I purchased the curriculum from him and make good use of it.
So, within my website you will find instances linking back to Mr. Vicars (and others) and giving him credit. If you ever have need of anything ASL I highly recommend his website, curriculum and wisdom.
My name is Steve Hubble and I love American Sign Language. When I was in college (many, many years ago) The University of Arizona required a foreign language component for graduation and I had no interest in their offerings. That is, until I came across ASL at our community college (Pima Community College) and I was intrigued.
From my very first class I was hooked! The language just seemed to come to life before my eyes and the visual aspect was quite beautiful. Even though I was born "Hearing," I felt as though I was home. Hearing and Deaf instructors alike also shared a love for the language and culture and they passed it on to their students.
I had found my career and was ready to be an interpreter, but my ears had other plans. As I continued toward the interpreter training program it became more and more difficult to hear. In a 'Disabilities Awareness' class we visited an audiology office and I was informed that I had lost a significant portion of my hearing - mainly in the upper ranges. Hearing well enough to interpret became increasingly difficult as my condition continued to worsen. Unfortunately I did not become an interpreter, but I took every ASL related class that I could.
Although I have taught ASL in other schools, I was given the opportunity to teach what I loved here at Tucson Country Day School and jumped at the chance. Most of the curriculum in my ASL class is my own, but as I began to look around at what others were doing I came across Bill Vicars' website and he offered so much for free. In a few instances, the old 'why recreate the wheel' adage fit well and I borrowed from him. Eventually I purchased the curriculum from him and make good use of it.
So, within my website you will find instances linking back to Mr. Vicars (and others) and giving him credit. If you ever have need of anything ASL I highly recommend his website, curriculum and wisdom.