Many of you or some of you know that Deaf individuals natural language would be American Sign Language, for short ASL which is a language that the people who is Deaf and Hard of Hearing use as their communication tool to communicate. Commonly Deaf people use American Sign Language to communicate with each others but they have attempted to communicate with the people who’s able or they call them “hearies” in American Sign Language and majorly they failed to understand that language because they never learned American Sign Language which mainstream schools is the one to blame for because most of them don’t offer American Sign Language as one of their languages class. Several mainstream or public schools are offering at least language for the students to take, mostly either Spanish or French but not American Sign Language and what they don’t realize is that American Sign Language is more used than French but as important as Spanish though since in United States there is no official languages but three most used languages would be English, Spanish and American Sign Language equally. In 2012 United States Census populations for the people who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing is nearly forty (40) millions, 38,225,590 to be exact who lives in the United States who happens to be Deaf or Hard of Hearing and it is nonsense for any mainstream or public schools to not be offering American Sign Language as one of their languages class for students to take in. Only the most education that offers American Sign Language (ASL) would be Deaf institution and few colleges such as Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. which is mecca for Deaf people.
One of the most question asked is why is American Sign Language aren’t equals with the other languages such as English, Spanish and French which is three common languages for the United States of America? American Sign Language is being used for many decades in the United States but they have not recognize it even though not too long ago the United States finally recognizes American Sign Language is a language.
Many people especially Deaf community advocates to have the mainstream or public schools to add American Sign Language for one of their languages class and they are being ignored. If many mainstream or public schools offer Spanish, French or English then it shouldn’t hurt them to add American Sign Language and there is many qualified Deaf teachers who would be more than happy to take the job to teach the students American Sign Language. But sadly almost all of them are not willing to give it a chance by adding American Sign Language to one of their languages for a class to be taught or implanting Bilingual-Bicultural education program which offers both English and American Sign Language equally. Until we can successfully convince the governments or boards of educations that American Sign Language is as important as these other three languages such as English, Spanish and French that they offers at their schools to add American Sign Language to the language classes list there is a great news for anyone who want to learn American Sign Language.
The ASL App
There are a few applications (apps) that a few of people decided to develop some apps for anyone who have the interest in learning American Sign Language from their smartphones or tablets. For a while, most of apps doesn’t offer enough American Sign Language until recent there is a team who decided to come up with a true American Sign Language app that offers plenty of American Sign Language for anyone who is interest in learning American Sign Language. Thanks to Malzkuhn family, there is finally the app and it is called The ASL App. The ASL App is packed with over 800 signs and phrases that is being taught by many Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals including the Deaf person name Nyle DiMarco who is our American Next Top Model cycle 22 winner. At the moment The ASL App is only available for iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod. The ASL App is beautifully design, very easy to navigate around on inside The ASL App for you to browse around some signs or phrases that you would like to learn and what even better is that they are being signed by real live people instead of some animations like other apps that offer American Sign Language.
By far The ASL App have more signs and phrases to learn than any of other apps that offers American Sign Language lessons. The ASL App is a lot better way to learn American Sign Language than learning some signs from American Sign Language books because in the American Sign Language books it does not show you the proper motions or movements in sign language which is very important in American Sign Language. Not only that The ASL App also teach you expressions that American Sign Language books cannot and expressions takes big part of American Sign Language. Why expressions? If you are upset and speaking in upsetting tone in your voice, Deaf individuals would have no way of telling what is your tone when you are speaking so that is where the expression comes in with American Sign Language. The ASL App offers in-app purchases such as packs where they offers different themes for American Sign Language to learn such as Universal Signs, Family Signs, Mood Swings, More Basic Signs and the ASL app pack.
Bundles
• Know Your ABCs – Learn the ASL alphabet (included, FREE!)
• Know Your Numbers – Learn all the numbers (included, FREE!)
• Universal Gestures – Review what you already know (included, FREE!)
• Handshape Exercises – Warm up your hands, and get used to the different handshape positions. Get your muscles to become fluently aware. (included, FREE!)
• The Basics! A good way to get started! (included, FREE!)
• More Basic Signs! Again, a collection of more basic signs. (Paid)
• Looking Good Today! A collection of signs that is related to looks, fashion, and different complimenting phrases. (Paid)
• Mood Swings! A collection of signs for different moods, emotions, feelings. (Paid)
• Life of the Party! A collection of signs/phrases designed to fit what will be said at social events, or at bars. (Paid)
• Dining & Signing! Signs and phrases for eating out, for the restaurant industry. (Paid)
• Foodies, Rejoice! Signs and phrases covering food, dishes, drinks, and different ways related to eating. (Paid)
• The Wilderness Beckons! Different signs and phrases of our natural environment. Perfect if you like camping, hiking, or road trips a lot. (Paid)
• Great Timing! Signs related to time, scheduling, calendars, days of the week, and more. (Paid)
• Dollar and Signs! Everything related to money, budgeting, invoicing, making payments and so on. (Paid)
Or you can get all the bundles as an app launch special!
I highly recommend The ASL App over the other American Sign Language apps including Marlee Matlin’s own American Sign Language app which has a way fewer signs and most of all doesn’t have as much as The ASL App have so why get something less when you could get more? Exactly. I have no acknowledge if they are planning on to release The ASL App for other operating systems such as Android, Windows or Blackberry though but I definitely will let all of you know once if they ever release The ASL App to other operating systems than iOS. Ready to download The ASL App? Go ahead and click here! If you are reading this article on a computer the link will send you to iTunes App page and if you are reading this on iOS it will automatically opens up iTunes app store for you to click to download.
UPDATED (7/8/2020)
The ASL App now have Android version app instead of only for iOS! Press here to download the app for android through Google Play.
Or want to learn more about The ASL App? They have The ASL App website with tons of information so you can get a better idea of what The ASL App is all about. Click here to visit their website.
Hope all of you have a great morning and keep yourselves warm!
Joshua “Joshie” Sullivan.
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