About this course

This course explores American Sign Language (ASL) through its historical evolution, structural nuances, and learning processes. It meticulously integrates historical perspectives with modern research, focusing on the structural, cognitive, and evolutionary dimensions of ASL and other sign languages.

What you will learn

  • The historical origins and natural gestures that contributed to the development of ASL grammar.
  • Structural variations within ASL and the impact of other languages on its evolution.
  • The role of visual analogy in learning ASL and the universal characteristics possibly shared by all sign languages.
  • Comparative studies of language-specific variations and historical changes between signed and spoken languages.
  • Visual, motoric, and cognitive factors that influence language formation and change in sign languages.
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Course details

  • Institution: GeorgetownX
  • Level: Advanced
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Video Transcript: Available in English

Who should enroll?

Individuals passionate about linguistics, cognitive sciences, and specifically those who use or are interested in American Sign Language. This includes both fluent ASL signers and intermediate learners who wish to deepen their understanding of sign languages.

Real-world applications

Learners can apply knowledge from this course in academic research, language teaching, linguistics, cognitive science, and professional practices involved in deaf studies and sign language interpretation.

Syllabus overview

Module 1: Introduction and Foundations

  • Language status and the emergence of sign language
  • Evolution and history of ASL
  • Change within ASL and lexical representation

Module 2: Structure and Syntax

  • Understand sign features, timing, and syntax interaction
  • Explore spatial architecture and syntactic agreement in ASL

Module 3: Cognitive and Biological Interactions

  • Factors affecting language acquisition based on visual inputs
  • Sign language neurobiology and morphology acquisition

Module 4: Historical Context and Evolution

  • Sign language archeology and historical sociolinguistics
  • Study of polyglottism and the early grammatical construction of ASL