Could I learn sign language by myself if I read allot of books about it?

Question

I know it would be hard to learn a speaking lanuage my yourself but sign language would be much easier i think.

Answer 1

you could but it will be easyer to do it with another person so you get the hang of communicating

Answer 2

Some people pick up on sign language faster than others, but you really won't learn it properly from books. There are grammatical structures just like in any language that you won't really get from a book. ASL is not just replacing English words with signs. Books can help, but you really need to go get involved with the Deaf community to really develop your skills.

For example, if you wanted to ask this question in sign language, you would actually sign "IF ME READ MANY BOOK, ME CAN LEARN SIGN" and you would raise your eyebrows to indicate that it is a yes/no question. There are also cultural norms that need to be followed (but those can be learned from a book easier than the language itself).

I'd go ahead and start looking at books, and some online dictionaries, but I would also recommend seeing if there is a class at a community college, or church or something that you could take. Or you could search for your area's local chapter of the Association of the Deaf and contact them, they should help you out. Good luck.

Answer 3

You could learn alot of vocabulary by reading books, but the best way to learn any language is by communicating with someone else. Try taking a class at a community college, foreign language classes are usually not too demanding and they are fun! Or, see if your city has a sign language club or organization where you can practice. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you are serious with your wish to learn and are willing to work at it you can learn on your own. Your local library will have video,s and book,s to help. Some employer,s also offer reimbursement for the cost of such courses. Your local government may also offer courses in American sign language through the continuing adult education program. Yes you can.

Answer 5

Do you know any deaf people around your school? Or do they have a deaf chat at a near by starbucks? What I think would be a good idea is if you learned and then praticed it. It is really fun if you are on the max with your friend and it is really loud and you can still have a good convo with out screaming at one another. I used to take up ASL in highschool and I am going to do so again in college. ASL is alot of fun, good luck with it

Answer 6

You can, but getting comfortable using it always requires someone to use it with. If you don't know any deaf people, talk a friend into learning it too and practice with them, you will both gain something useful.

Answer 7

yes there are books and videos. just keep practicing and soon you will learn. i learned spanish and never went to school. go to a bookstore and you can purchase them there. also the library has alot of things on this. ebay has too.

Answer 8

Actually there are some videos on it - this series is aimed at kids, but the way it is done makes it easy to pick up - could be a starting place?
www.signingtime.org

Answer 9

yeah, my sister took out a book from the library and started practicing with her daughters. They keep showing me their fingers all day. My sister tels me what they are saying ofcourse. But yeah, she learned and my nieces too.

Answer 10

yeah, you can, i taught myself sign language, now i know numbers 1-5 and the whole alphabet. you can also whach the movie "miricle worker" its about helen keler, i know it sounds dumb, but it can teach you smaller words, like doll and cake, (and more of course)

also you can go to dogpile, and put a search in for signlanguage, you would probly get alot of websites, good luck..

oh its not that hard, i taught myself when i was like in 5th grade...

Answer 11

Yes you can learn it, you just need to practise first with the leters, then when they are down real well, go for whole words then sentences. Have fun.