Includes bibliographical references and index.

This is a guide for mastering the current basic signs used to communicate with deaf people in either the word order of the English language or in the American Sign Language pattern. It provides the basic vocabulary needed for persons entering interpreter training programs. Over 1500 signs have been illustrated and are grouped by chapter into their natural categories. Includes line drawings and step-by-step descriptions of positions and movements, information about the origins of signs, as well as the correct usage of signs in context.

HIstory of sign language and fingerspelling -- Terminology -- The art of signing -- The language pattern of signs: signing on the continuum -- Fingerspelling -- Manual alpha chart -- Mastering the art of signing naturally -- Words for which signs are not always required -- Statements, commands, questions -- Types of questions -- The conditional sentence -- Pluralization and frequency -- Noun/verb pairs -- Intensity and degree -- Location of signs in a story -- Use of eyes and index finger in pointing -- The signer becoming the character in the story -- Tense -- Continuity, continuous action, duration -- Regularity -- Directionality of signs -- Signs placed at appropriate locations on the body -- Incorporating numbers -- Numbers used with personal pronouns --Negation -- Classifiers and size and shape specifiers -- Organizations serving the deaf -- Vocabulary index.