American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL Terminology:

The Deaf world and the field of ASL studies have a specialized lingo (vocabulary). I'm not talking about ASL signs, I'm talking about phrases and topics in ASL or English that are used to discuss ASL.
For example, In our world (the deaf community) it is common to refer to non-deaf people as "HEARING PEOPLE."

We refer to a non-deaf (public) school by using the signs "HEARING SCHOOL."

Our children who can hear are "CODAs." (Child of Deaf Adult). These individuals grow up "hearing" on the outside, but are culturally deaf inside. Or perhaps bicultural.)

For a growing list of terminology used at ASL University, please visit the Glossary page.