asl pro

[TennisGirl]

I shudder when visiting the aslpro site, but they do have a good listing of mouth adverbials/morphemes. So here is the site, but please, don't take everything on their site as gospel.
http://www.aslpro.com/mouthmorphemes/mouthmorphemes.html
(I laughed when watching the Silent Night interpreted portion. "'Round yon virgin" has never meant round belly, at least not that I know of. I've always been under the impression it meant "There's the mom and baby over there, but hey, I could be wrong.)




I am also part of another yahoo group that is designed to help out families that are learning ASL to teach to their kids. It is run by a bunch of people in the Deaf community and many interperaters. They are always cautioning people to not use ASLPro! They have told us that there are many wrong signs on it and some that are even vulger! I have taken it totally off my list of dictionaries that I use when looking things up.



So...As a beginner Signer should I use ASL pro?
Thank You for any help!!

[jenml]

So...As a beginner Signer should I use ASL pro?

It's one source... perhaps not the best source, but use it as a comparision reference, maybe.

It's like using any dictionary... you have to use the language to know if what you are reading (seeing) is useful or not. I have looked on there and noticed that a word is being shown in one context, and it's not the best one for the way I need it. Sometimes I notice that the sign could be WRONG (or maybe more accurately, justa regional variation that I have never come across. I also find the affect of the demonstrators kind of flat and their signs a little rough (incomplete, sometimes).

But again, it's a tool. Use it as a comparision source, and not THE source.

I know it's often difficult when a beginner does not have easy access to ASL users, but that type of exposure is the best way to learn (by watching and by trying... and even by being gently corrected, but that's how you learn).

And NO ASL user will think less of a beginner who is attempting to use the language and learn more... everyone's gotta start somewhere. And generally, Deaf folks are just happy that there are more people to talk to/sign to!! (Right, Steve?);) :D :p (wish we could do it again... that was a long time ago, huh?)

[alices_dad]

Hi Jen!
I agree with Jen - the best way to learn is to do. Also, you should be really clear about what your goals are. If your goal is to be fluent in ASL, that's one thing. My goal was to be able to communicate with my daughter and give her the ability to bootstrap language - this doesn't require fluency nor does it require me to abide strictly by ASL grammar or vocabulary.