Short description:

Sign Languages: Structures and Contexts provides a succinct summary of major findings in the linguistic study of natural sign languages. Focusing on American Sign Language (ASL), this book offers a comprehensive introduction to the basic grammatical components of phonology, morphology, and syntax with examples and illustrations.

Long description:

Sign Languages: Structures and Contexts provides a succinct summary of major findings in the linguistic study of natural sign languages. Focusing on American Sign Language (ASL), this book offers a comprehensive introduction to the basic grammatical components of phonology, morphology, and syntax with examples and illustrations.

Revised throughout, this new edition:

• demonstrates how sign languages are acquired by Deaf children with varying degrees of input during early development, including no input where children create a language of their own


• discusses the contexts of sign languages, including how different varieties are formed and used, attitudes toward sign languages, and how language planning affects language use


• includes a new chapter on the similarities between signed and spoken languages


• offers additional visuals and explanations as well as more coverage of signed languages other than ASL


• is accompanied by updated online support material, which hosts links to video clips

This engaging and accessible introduction to sign languages is essential reading for students studying this topic for the first time with little or no background in linguistics.

Table of Contents:

List of Figures

List of Tables

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Introduction 

Chapter 2: Phonology 

Chapter 3: Morphology

Chapter 4: Syntax 

Chapter 5: Modality and language

Chapter 6: Children with input from birth 

Chapter 7: Contexts of later language development 

Chapter 8: Homesign systems 

Chapter 9: Variation 

Chapter 10: Language Attitudes 

Chapter 11: Language Policy and Planning 

Chapter 12: Conclusion

Index