AMERICA'S #1 ASL REFERENCE BOOK - OVER 75,000 COPIES SOLD!

After English and Spanish, it is the third most common language in North America. Over 22 million people use it to communicate. It has its own beauty, its own unmistakable form, and its own inherent culture. It is American Sign Language (ASL), the language of the deaf.

Gabriel Grayson has put together a book that makes signing accessible, easy, and fun. Using almost 1,400 photographs, he has created a comprehensive primer to the techniques, words, and phrases of signing. Each word or phrase is accompanied by a photo or series of photos that show hand and body motions and facial expressions. Along with the images are step-by-step instructions for forming the sign, as well as a helpful "Visualize" tip that connects the sign with its meaning for easier recall.

After examining the fascinating history and nature of both sign language and the deaf community, Talking With Your Hands, Listening With Your Eyes explains signing basics, covering such topics as handshapes, fingerspelling, signing etiquette, and more. The remaining chapters provide over 1,700 words and phrases. Throughout the book, informative insets focus on fascinating aspects of deaf history, deaf culture, and significant deaf personalities.

Grayson, Gabriel

Although Gabriel Grayson can hear, he is uniquely qualified to have authored this book. Born to parents who were both completely deaf, Grayson's first means of trained communication was sign language. The story of his childhood was the basis for an ABC made-for-television movie. Professor Grayson has served as the chairperson of the Department of Sign Language at New School University in New York City. In addition, he has been a principal court-appointed sign language interpreter for the NYC judicial system, and has conducted sign language tours at the American Museum of Natural History.