Revised 8/2012

ASL 115 - Fingerspelling and Number Use in Asl (2 CR.)

Course Description

Provides intensive practice in comprehension and production of fingerspelled words and numbers with emphasis on clarity and accuracy. Focuses on lexicalized fingerspelling and numberal incorporation as used by native users of American Sign Language. Lecture 2 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

To provide a controlled atmosphere within which the student can practice the use of fingerspelling and numbers at an equivalent pace with their current ASL course. This course will increase the speed and fluency of numbers challenging the student’s receptive and expressive skills. 

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: ASL 101.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Identify and produce proper handshapes for the manual alphabet and numbers (1-100+)
• Use correct positioning for spelling words and numbers
• Develop near-native speed and fluency of fingerspelling and numbers while maintaining clarity and accuracy
• Read fingerspelling as they would a word - holistically - as opposed to reading individual letters
• Develop receptive and expressive vocabulary for lexicalized fingerspelling
• Produce numbers in isolation as well as incorporated into signs
• Identify variation in fingerspelled letters and numbers

Major Topics to Be Included

• Fingerspelling Rules
• Birthdays, Age, and Family Ranking
• Home and Neighborhood
• Travel, Money, and Time
• Lexicalized Fingerspelling