Sign language is a type of visual communication with the hands, body, and facial expressions used by deaf and hard-of-hearing people. American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary means of communication by a very large portion of the deaf population in the United States.

ASL has a unique grammar and syntax, unrelated to English (although it reflects English influences). American Sign Language also includes fingerspelling (also known as the manual alphabet) to spell out certain words that do not have a sign, including proper names and technical phrases.

In its true sense, ASL is the patterns used by deaf people when they communicate with sign in a non-English style. Neither articles nor speech are used. Only when American Sign Language differs completely from English is it properly considered true ASL; some people incorrectly use the term "ASL" to include a whole range of manual communication and...