This document provides an introduction to basic sign language. It discusses what deafness is, its causes and levels. It outlines different communication methods for the deaf, including sign language. The document teaches some basic signs for people, family members, emotions, colors and greetings. It emphasizes the five elements of sign language: hand shape, position, orientation, movement and facial expression. Examples are provided to teach signs and evaluate understanding. References for further information are also included.

1. Speaking with our Hands:
Introduction to Basic Sign
Language
Ms. Kathryn M. Medina
Sped Teacher III, Philippine School for the Deaf
Level 4- Interpreter, PRID
PNASLI, Member

2. What is Deafness
 Deafness, hearing impairment, or hearing
loss is a partial or total inability to hear.
 Hearing loss exists when there is diminished
sensitivity to the sounds normally heard
 Deafness is defined as a degree of impairment
such that a person is unable to understand
speech even in the presence of amplification

3. Causes
 Age Syndrome
 Noise • Neurological
 Genetic disorders
 Multiple sclerosis
 Illness
 Stroke
 Measles
 Medication
 Meningitis
 Chemicals
 Mumps  Head trauma
• HIV/ AIDS
• Premature birth
• Fetal Alcohol

4. Level of Deafness
 . Hearing impairment may be ranked as mild,
moderate, moderately severe, severe or profound
as defined below:
 Mild:
 for adults: between 26 and 40 dB HL
 for children: between 20 and 40 dB HL
 Moderate: between 41 and 54 dB HL
 Moderately severe: between 55 and 70 dB HL
 Severe: between 71 and 90 dB HL
 Profound: 91 dB HL or greater
 Totally Deaf: Have no hearing at all.

5. Methods in Communicating with the
Deaf
 Communication methods for communicating with
deaf and hard of hearng people (and language
development) including:
 auditory verbal,
 cued speech,
 sign language, (ASL and /or FSL)
 signed exact english,
 speech therapy,
 speechreading/lipreading,
 and total communication.

6. What is Sign Language and how can
we use this to our Deaf students / Deaf
loved ones?
 We can use the following:
 American Sign Language
 Sign Exact English
 Filipino Sign Language

7. Things we have to remember in
signing
There are five distinct elements to correctly
using Sign Language . They are:
 Hand Shape
 Hand Position
 Hand Orientation
 Hand Movement
 Facial Expression

8. Let us start Basic Signing!!!

9. Lets Evaluate!

11. Now lets try another one!

12. Basic Sign Language
 God  Uncle
 People  Aunt
 Family  Cousins
 Father  Teacher
 Mother  Principal
 Brother  Classmates
 Sister
 Grandmother
 Grandfather

13.  Happy –glad-  Me  New
joy  She  Old
 Sad- lonely  He  always
 Alone  Strong  Beautiful
 Share  True  Handsome
 Get  Lean – depend  Sweet
 Love  Blue  Sour
 Learn  Red  Bitter
 Pray  Yellow
 Come  Green
 With  Violet
 Us  Pink
 I

14. Polite Greetings and Occasions
 Good Morning  Good bye
 Good Noon  Happy Birthday
 Good Afternoon  Merry Christmas
 Good evening  Happy New Year
 Good night  Happy Valentines
 Good day  Happy Halloween
 Thank you  I love you
 Welcome

15. Lets try to sign a song!

16. References
 Philippine Registry of Interpreter (PRID) Basic
Sign Language Manual
 Elements of American Sign Language |
Suite101 http://suite101.com/article/elements-of-
american-sign-language-
a108755#ixzz2H4dWgqPG
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deafness#Classificatio
n
 http://deafness.about.com/od/cuedspeech/Cued_
Speech.htm