Deaf culture

Applause or clapping in Deaf culture

Applause expresses appreciation or approval. In hearing Western culture, they typically clap with the palms of their hands. Sound-oriented.

In American Deaf culture, as visually-oriented, Deaf people ususally wave their hands in the air. This Deaf applause (waving in the air) began in the 1980s. To this day, it has been widely prevalent in the Deaf world.

Sometimes, Deaf people can be creative with applause variations. It can be clapping in the air above head, or alternatively clapping with palms and waving hands. This can be sometimes said half-jokedly as 'bilingual'.

In most cases, it's both hands waving in the air.

New to sign language? "Where do I start?" or "How do I start learning sign language?" This ASL Rookie guide lists some selected links to the tutorials for ASL beginners to get started and keep rolling. It may be a useful review for intermediate-level learners and ASL students as well.

Some tutorial pages are a mix of free and premium versions. Access to premium content and links below are available in the PatronPlus subscription. More links/posts will be added from time to time.

Expressing needs and wants

  1. Making commands or requests

Talking about activities

  1. Frequency of time: how often?

Are you able to carry everyday conversations in ASL? Are you a student in the intermediate levels and beyond, who wishes to boost up your signing skills? You've come to the selected tutorial series. (Some premium content are available to PatronPlus membership.)

Stories, poems, performance arts, etc. in sign language.

This documentation project follows a child's language acquisition, literacy development, and phonological acquisition in sign language, specifically ASL, from newborn to age five in a natural native-ASL environment and visual culture.