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 enlarge | Author: Lottie L. Riekehof
Publisher: Gospel Publishing House
Category: Book
List Price: $23.99
Buy Used: $6.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  45 reviews
Sales Rank: 15124
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 2 Sub
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 10.6 x 7.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 0882435205
Dewey Decimal Number: 419
EAN: 9780882435206
ASIN: 0882435205
Publication Date: February 1987
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| Customer Reviews:
 Please don't buy this if you want an ASL dictionary February 21, 2006
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
I'll start with what you've already read: this book is so English. As an interpreter and involved member of the Deaf community, I can assure that this is no compliment. Don't get me wrong, I love English; it's my first language... but it is very different from ASL.
The only good thing I can say about this book is that it is organized by categories (family, food, emotions, etc.), instead of the usual organization (by most-common English gloss).
If you're looking for a book to help you remember the ASL vocabulary you learn in a sign language class, this is not what you are looking for. Your teacher will likely give you a funny look if you use many of the signs in this book, and you'll end up having to un-learn them. This is especially true if you are learning to sign in the midwest and west. No matter where you live, don't waste your time and brainpower on this.
By the way, most Deaf adults do not use English sign systems; I know maybe 3 or 4 who do, and their language skills are not held in high esteem by their peers. It's true that Deaf children often use English sign systems, but when they are old enough to choose, their choice is usually ASL. You are better off focusing on that if you want to be able to converse with Deaf people. I've found that they are generally very accomodating when it comes to communication: they will likely understand you even if your signs are Englishy. I'd be surprised if anyone mentioned your mistakes, but you'd be silently screaming "I'M HEARING AND CLUELESS!"
I recommend the ASL Handshape Dictionary for beginning ASL students. The Clayton Valli dictionary published by Gallaudet is also quite good. If you're not already using them in your ASL program, the "Signing Naturally" series, from DawnSign Press, is excellent. For more advanced students, go for the Green Books, especially the teacher's edition. Good luck in your studies.
WARNING: Do NOT buy! July 10, 2004
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
I am a graduate of Deaf Studies,I have many Deaf friends, and co-ordinate a Deaf Club/Social. While attending college I would use signs from this book with my Deaf friends and they would look at me as if I had three heads. I would have to fingerspell to them which in turn they would correct my previous sign and ask from where did I learned it. When I told them, ALL informed me to throw the book out. They are OUT-DATE signs!
When learning sign, buy DawnSign Press, Vista, Signing Naturally (both video and workbook). These are the best and extremely accurate (a few signs are California dialect). Another book that's great is Sign Language Made Simple. Don't forget either, that the BEST way to learn the language (outside of schooling) is becoming involved in the Deaf commnuity!!!! Learn from the masters!
 ASL--what's that? March 20, 2004
8 out of 16 found this review helpful
I don't understand the reviews here that glorify ASL and claim this book is no good. Maybe various parts of the country are different, but the deaf around my part of the country just don't use ASL. It is a dying breed only still hung onto by some of the older deaf. Possibly this varies according to where one lives, but nearly all of the younger deaf around my area are moving toward using more Signed Exact English. Anyway, this book is great for what it is. It is like a dictionary, and that is what I wanted. And, of course, some of the signs are different now, but since sign language changes over time just like spoken English, I don't really see the problem. This is a good book for use as a dictionary. If one really wants to learn sign language, then one has to talk to deaf people and see what they are doing now. If you haven't done so in several years, you will find things have changed; and you will have to learn again. Also, those who teach in college continually amuse me. If they don't actually get out into the deaf community where they teach, then they really aren't in a position to know what is really going on. I have seen supposed teachers around my area who really just don't have a clue. If you want to learn sign language, find a teacher who currently works with the deaf in your community, otherwise they are not up to date. And use this book for reference, while realizing that no book is up to date unless it was just published yesterday, and also realize that sign language changes over time, so one has to keep up. And also realized that ASL is a dying language while sign language more closer reflecting English speech patterns is becoming more and more prevalent. One has to keep up with the times.
The Joy of Signing...not ASL March 6, 2004
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
I bought the book "The Joy of Signing" as recommended by a friend and thought it was a good source to learn to speak to deaf people. However, one day at my job, I was signing to a woman who is deaf and she did not understand me. She asked me where I leared that and I told her from "The Joy of Signing". She told me that book is a bad one to use and get one from the official American Sign Language (ASL) instead. Buy another book if you want to effectivly communicate.
obsolete, not really usable January 3, 2004
6 out of 11 found this review helpful
I picked up this book when I began a degree in ASL. I thought it would give me some kind of head start. There are a couple signs in there that you might look up one day, but you could easily find them on the net. I am no expert in ASL Lingusitics, but I assure you, I know deaf people aren't using this book or recommending it. It is a dinosaur. The progressive ASL books would be the ones currently being published by DAWN SIGN PRESS and GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY PRESS. They, would be the experts in this field- the people who sign 24/7. Spend the money elsewhere. Videos for DSP and GUP are also better than others.
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