ASL 213 - Comparative Linguistics: American Sign Language and English

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
Explore the basic concepts of American Sign Language linguistics in phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and discourse structures as compared to English. Develop sign variations as a result of gender, race, geography, social class and language acquisition.

Prerequisite(s): ASL 210 with a grade of C or better or permission of department chair.

Location(s) Typically Offered: Arnold Main Campus (MC)

Term(s) Typically Offered: Spring

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Summarize general themes and issues in the realm of American Sign Language (ASL) and the Deaf communities.
Identify the mechanisms of learning and language acquisition.
Explain trends and norms in ASL vocabulary building.
Use linguistic rules to analyze ASL signs.
Demonstrate respect for and understanding of Deaf people and ASL, with an appreciation for their linguistic and cultural diversity.
Formulate comparisons between students’ cultural experiences and the cultural products, practices, and perspectives of Deaf communities.