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“Signing: How to Speak with your Hands” will serve many purposes on your signing bookshelf:it’s a jam-packed dictionary, introductory grammar text, thorough guide to the non-manual aspects of signs, plus a little historical background thrown in for good measure.

Each dictionary-style entry not only depicts the sign clearly (both starting and ending handshapes), as most books do, but describes the handshape(s) and actions involved in text.PLUS, there is a written “hint” provided for many of the words defined (wherever possible, ie the more iconic or literal signs).

Example:
For EGG, the definition shows a picture of the start and end handshapes for the EGG sign.Text reads:”Begionning with the middle-finger side of the right hand across the index-finger side of the left “h” hand, drop the fingers down and apart from each other.”The accompanying hint reads, “Hint: Breaking an egg into a bowl,” which this motion resembles.
For SYRUP, the hint is “wiping syrup from the lips”; for FIRE, “shows flames rising.”

This book groups words thematically into sections, not alphabetically, but rather in categories, like Health, Food, etc.Each section is a treasure-trove of signs, which may be overwhelming to the beginner, but which means the book will not quickly outlive its usefulness.

Each section begins with a few quick grammar points, and grammar is also integrated into the definitions wherever applicable.Grammar points cover topics like the signing space, symmetrical signs, placement and the nonmanual aspects of signing like repetition, emphasis and facial expression.

This book uses an extremely durable binding, which is perhaps its best feature, as you’ll be referring to it again and again.It’s built to last and will be a lasting addition to your ASL bookshelf for years to come.

NOTE:A previous reviewer has commented that this book over-emphasizes English grammar.I haven’t seen that tendency in the book, however, it does perhaps under-emphasize ASL grammar.There is some discussion of noun-adjective order, and some discussion of use of tenses, but nothing I could find about ASL sentence order.I feel the book sidestepped this issue altogether so as to focus on imparting the basics of sign.

You will learn to speak with your hands, as the title suggests, however, if you’re new to ASL, you’ll probably need to move on eventually to a book that more comprehensively covers ASL sentence structure and “conversational” ASL.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Signing: How To Speak With Your Hands (Paperback)

Product Description:
A revised and expanded edition of the widely used, helpfully illustrated, comprehensive guide to sign language includes easy-to-follow instructions, new signs, information on new technology and education, and more.

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