Linguistics of American Sign Language: An Introduction, 4th Ed.

Featuring a completely revised section on morphology and syntax, 18 new and updated readings, and new homework assignments based on the accompanying DVD, the fourth edition of Linguistics of American Sign Language expands its purview as the standard introduction to ASL linguistics available today. The newly revised section offers new units on verbs in ASL, simple sentences in ASL, classifier predicates, syntax, and basic sentence types. The fourth edition also features groundbreaking research on iconic signs in ASL and the relationship between metaphor and iconicity in signed languages; variation in ASL; the different functions of space in ASL; and the artistic forms of ASL, including storytelling, percussion signing, drama, comedy, and poetry.

Updated references and expanded readings delineate all of the linguistic basics, including phonology, semantics, and language use. The fourth edition also provides new homework assignments that correspond to the ASL stories signed on the special DVD enclosed with this new volume.

Customer Reviews:

Definitive linguistic compendium

By Midwest Book Review - December 8, 2006

Written by the team of Clayton Valli, Ceil Lucas (Professor of Linguistics in the department of Linguistics as Gallaudet University), and Kristin J. Mulroney (Assistant Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics as Gallaudet University), Linguistics of American Sign Language is an in-depth reference and resource for intermediate to expert linguistic students, scholars and professionals, now in an updated fourth edition with an accompanying course DVD. The fourth edition of Linguistics of American Sign Language features an entirely revised section on morphology and syntax, the latest research on main categories of verbs in ASL, insight into artistic forms of ASL such as singing, drama, and poetry, 18 new and updated readings, and new suggested homework assignments based on the DVD, and much more. The first half of the text focuses on the nuts-and-bolts grammar and dissection of ASL; the second half is devoted to supplemental readings by a variety of learned authors,... read more

Excellent book on the structure of ASL

By melrose - June 29, 2008

This is an excellent book to understand the meaning of ASL and to analyze it. It is NOT a how to sign book, it is for those who know ASL at an intermediate level at least. It is a very interesting book and covers ALOT of information, but the homework activities included help absorb the information. It challenges your thinking.

I do suggest that you only read this book if you are really serious about ASL. It is a good book for those learning to be interpreters.

This book goes over the structure of ASL such as the phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and sociolinguistic structures. It teaches you how to think critically about ASL linguistics so you can have a better understanding of the structure as well as the history of the language, NOT a history of the people who use the language, but a history of the language itself and its changes from as early as the 1960's, by looking into the research linguists have done and are doing.

My thoughts

By Jonathan Fast - July 19, 2007

This is a very nice book very informative but more what makes up ASL than how to sign ASL. So if you're looking for what makes up ASL this is your book, but if you're looking for how to form complex sentences and how words inflect this isn't it. But I supposed that's my fault for assuming linguistics=syntax. :D