Q&A for How to Learn American Sign Language

One way is to practice it a lot, which is what most do. You can also write notes, and write the motions down a couple times to help them get stuck in your mind. Look over the notes every day, so the information doesn't go away (as information may not stick for very long if you just hear/read it once). You could also get help from a friend (someone who previously knows ASL) and have them sign for you, while you answer to them what the sign means.

Point at yourself with your index finger, then point at your chin, then point at the person you're speaking to.

It depends on what you are trying to say. In some cases, yes, but in other cases, no.

The sign for "sorry" is made by forming an "A" (fist with your thumb resting on your index finger) with your right hand. Rotate your hand on your chest using a couple of clockwise motions. This sign also can be be used to mean "apologize" or "regret."

You point your index finger up with the rest of the fingers in a fist. Shake your hand side to side.

You can be any age. You are never too old or too young to learn a new language

Take your pointer finger and drag it from the bottom of your lip to your chin, think of it like you were smearing lipstick.

Put your hands in fists and hold them up to your chest then shake your arms.

Put both arms in the air, hands at head level, and shake your arms up and down twice. Sort of like 'Raise the Roof'.

Put your right hand on your chin (like you are saying thank you) and then lower your hand down to your left hand. Then put your right wrist on top of your other wrist so that it looks like an x. Tap your wrists twice.

There is no sign for "tribe." Use the alphabet and spell out the word.

A great site is signschool.com/ for learning sign language.

ASL Sign Handspeak does it all! You can get all sorts of signs, alphabets, numbers, places, and a search dictionary. They even have a list of the first 100 words, with pictures and GIFs. Awesome place!

You need to spell names using the ASL alphabet. If the conversation is about two people with different initials, you can just sign the first letter of each name.

Make your right hand flat, palm facing upward. Make a thumbs up sign with your left hand and put it on your right palm, move your hands upward.

The number 6 in ASL is what 3 would be in English: pointer finger, middle finger, and ring finger.

You point at the person, then take your hands and turn them into y's. Then you just shake them near your chest.

Put your thumb and forefingers together on each hand, and tap your fingers together twice. It's like two 'O' signs tapped together.

Hook each index finger on top of each other in a crisscrossing manner.

First, start with the sign for happy by brushing a flat hand over your heart a couple of times. Next, sign birthday by touching the middle finger of one hand first to your chin, then to your chest.

Make a flat hand and place it in between your collar bones, on your chest. Then rub your hand in a circle.

lifeprint.com. It offers both written and visual content. The videos make it easy to learn ASL.

If you're saying really as in "seriously" or "truthfully", then use your dominant hand in a shushing form by your mouth, and then move it forward.

Make a fist with your left hand and a fist with your right. Put your right hand over your left hand, still in fists, and uncurl your right pointer into a hook. Move that hook back and forth.

Simply use the signs for each word in a fluid motion. If there isn’t a sign for a word, finger spell it in place of a sign.

You do the sign for b in the alphabet (which is a 4 but with fingers touching) and shake it.

Make your mouth into a short 'o', like you tasted something hot. Then move your right hand over it, like fanning your mouth.

Hold your mouth and shake your head, then put down your ring, middle, and index fingers and turn your wrist back and forth.

Make your hands into a B shape using the ASL alphabet. Then, outline a square in front of your face, starting vertically, then going horizontal.

Point at yourself with your index finger, then point at your chin, then point at the person you're speaking to.