Understanding ASL: Meaning, History, and Cultural Significance
Table of Contents
- What Does ASL Mean?
- What Does ASL Stand For?
- Origins and History of American Sign Language (ASL)
- Development and Evolution of ASL
- Common Misconceptions About ASL
- ASL in Pop Culture and Social Media
- FAQ
What Does ASL Mean?
ASL is an acronym for American Sign Language, the beautiful and expressive visual language used primarily by members of the Deaf community in North America. ASL possesses all the basic features of any natural language with some unique structure that includes handshapes, facial expressions, and body movements that enable the user to convey meaning and effectively communicate without using words. ASL is unlike spoken languages in one aspect: it is a visual-gestural language that grew naturally among Deaf people over many centuries.
ASL has its grammar and syntax; therefore, it is fundamentally different from English. It is a complete language with its rules and structure to express complex thoughts and emotions.
What Does ASL Stand For?
ASL has been an acronym for a number of things, but when referring to communication, it seems to consistently refer to American Sign Language. It is a visual language that is a major form of communication among people who are Deaf or hard of hearing in the United States and Canada.
Interesting enough, ASL also carries other meanings, especially in internet slang. For instance, it can refer to "Age, Sex, Location" and is in use while performing online chat or varied social networking sites. This usage of ASL was quite famous during the advent of online chatrooms, although the usage has gone low in recent years.
You can see the different meanings of ASL elaborated upon on Dictionary.com.
Origins and History of American Sign Language (ASL)
ASL has a rich history that is rooted in numerous influences from both European and Native American sign languages. The development of ASL is significantly credited to one Deaf French educator named Laurent Clerc, who cofounded with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet the first American school for the Deaf in 1817.
In large part, it borrowed from French Sign Language (LSF), which was brought into the United States by Laurent Clerc. Gallaudet and Clerc collaborated with Deaf in local communities, and ASL emerged as a mixture of LSF and the signing variety that was already local to the Deaf children. ASL came into being during the 19th century as a systemized and recognized language.
ASL has its deep roots regarding cultural and linguistic origin with the Deaf community and their struggle to develop an educational system for the Deaf. For more about the history of ASL, see Britannica's detailed overview.
Development and Evolution of ASL
American Sign Language has its genesis in the growth of educational institutions for people who are Deaf and the recognition of ASL as a legitimate language. In the 19th century, schools for the Deaf, such as Gallaudet University, were established and provided great impetus in codifying and publicizing ASL.
Yet, ASL was not without its problems. Oralsim, or the teaching of speaking and lip-reading, was promoted over sign language well into the early twentieth century, although it greatly diminished the adoption of ASL within educational settings. Despite obstacles in its development, ASL continued to grow among the Deaf communities of the time, who used it as a form of cultural pride and survival.
In recent decades, increased recognition of ASL as a distinct language has made it more acceptable within educational programs and created interpreting services for the language. There are groups, such as the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), devoted to advancing ASL and preserving the culture of the Deaf through events. To explore more about the journey of ASL, you can refer to DawnSign's article on ASL history.
Common Misconceptions About ASL
American Sign Language is poorly understood. Following are a few of those misconceptions:
- ASL Is Universal: In fact, there is a number of spoken languages and a number of types of sign languages used in the different parts of the world. ASL is normally being used in the United States and some parts of Canada.
- ASL Is Based on English: Although ASL is used in English-speaking countries, it is not directly derived from English. It has its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and is a completely independent language.
- ASL Is Only for Deaf People: While it is true that ASL is the language of the Deaf community, what one might find surprising is that more family members, interpreters, and individuals interested in making a better connection with the culture are learning ASL.
ASL in Pop Culture and Social Media
This has promoted ASL in recent years through pop culture and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Many influencers and content creators use ASL within their videos, whether to make content more inclusive or to raise awareness about Deaf culture.
One strong example is Nyle DiMarco, a Deaf model and advocate who has appeared on shows such as Dancing with the Stars. He uses ASL in sharing his experiences and advocating for greater inclusion in the media.
ASL slang usage has also come to platforms such as TikTok. For instance, ASL may be used as a short form when saying "as hell." There have been instances of users misusing the ASL to mean that in many instances. The slang usage is often seen in comments such as, "I'm tired asl" to emphasize the feeling. However, it is very important to determine the instance where ASL is applied especially formal or informal settings. For more on this see TikTok.
To learn more about what ASL means, and its slang, visit MMGuardian's page on ASL.
FAQ
Q: What does ASL mean in slang?
A: In slang, ASL is an abbreviation that represents "Age, Sex, Location", or it is used as a shorthand for "as hell" in colloquial contexts. The latter has gained momentum of usage, especially on social media sites.
Q: Where is the origin of American Sign Language?
A: American Sign Language originated in the early 19th century, heavily influenced by French Sign Language brought by Laurent Clerc, combined with signs used by Deaf individuals in America. You can learn more from Start ASL's historical overview.
Q: When was ASL created?
A: ASL began to take shape in the early 1800s when, in 1817, the first school for the Deaf in America was established. ASL evolved as a naturally used language within the Deaf community.
Q: Is ASL the same as British Sign Language (BSL)?
A: No, ASL and BSL are not the same language; each has its signs, grammar, and structures. They aren't mutually intelligible.
Q: Is ASL only used by people who are Deaf?
A: No, ASL is used by hearing individuals who have, for example, a relative who is Deaf, or who are sign language interpreters, or who simply are interested in the language.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has more on ASL, its background, and cultural importance. Basically, understanding ASL embraces a different kind of society where communication can easily occur without any limitations among people.
