Course Description:

Signed languages are natural human languages used by Deaf communities around the world, yet they have historically been misunderstood or overlooked in the study of language. In this course, we will explore American Sign Language (ASL) and the linguistic, social, and cognitive questions surrounding signed languages.

• What are signed languages, and how did they develop?
• What is a Deaf community?
• How are linguistic structures such as phonemes, morphemes, syllables, and syntax represented in ASL?
• Do signed languages have dialects?
• How does the brain process signed languages compared with spoken languages?

In this class, we will examine how linguists apply theories of language structure to signed languages and consider the broader social and educational impacts of congenital deafness. Through readings, lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, students will gain a deeper understanding of how signed languages work and what they reveal about human language more broadly.

No prior knowledge of ASL is required. This is not an ASL language-learning course like ASL 1; while students will encounter and learn some signs, the primary focus is on the linguistic study of signed languages. Students with previous experience, even fluent signers, will gain new perspectives on the structure and use of signed languages.