American Sign Language

Sign language is just like any spoken language, with a rich vocabulary and a highly organized, rule-governed grammar. The only difference is that in sign language, information is processed through the eyes rather than the ears. Thus, facial expression and body movement play an important part in conveying information. Along with sign language and lip reading, many deaf people also communicate with the manual alphabet, which uses finger positions that correspond to the letters of the alphabet to spell out words and names.