South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Culture Course

Course Description

Welcome to the fascinating world of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf culture! This engaging, self-paced course, expertly crafted by linguist Prof Anne Baker, offers a comprehensive introduction to conversational SASL while providing valuable insights into Deaf culture. Whether you're looking to enhance your personal communication skills or expand your professional horizons, this course is designed to enrich your life in numerous ways.

What Students Will Learn

• Basic SASL skills for simple conversations
• Visual language observation and usage techniques
• SASL greetings and introductory conversation skills
• Fingerspelling and name spelling
• Expressing information about family and hobbies in SASL
• Making appointments using SASL
• Describing individuals in SASL
• Additional SASL structural aspects (negatives, questions, plurals)
• Deeper appreciation of sign languages and Deaf community experiences
• Awareness of challenges faced by Deaf people due to hearing prejudices
• Understanding the role of interpreters in Deaf-hearing communication
• Exposure to Deaf community literature and artistic expressions

Pre-requisites

There are no prerequisites for this course. It is designed for beginners and does not require any prior knowledge of SASL or Deaf culture.

Course Coverage

• Orientation and greetings
• Introduction and self-expression
• Numerals, days, appointments, and interpreters
• Descriptive skills and literary appreciation
• Deaf culture and community insights
• Visual language techniques
• Basic SASL grammar and structure
• Fingerspelling and name signs
• Family and hobby vocabulary
• Scheduling and appointment signs
• SASL literature and artistic expressions

Who This Course Is For

• Anyone interested in learning SASL and understanding Deaf culture
• Professionals working in fields where they may interact with Deaf individuals
• Educators looking to expand their linguistic and cultural knowledge
• Students of linguistics, communication, or cultural studies
• Individuals seeking to improve their overall communication skills
• Those interested in promoting inclusivity and diversity in their personal or professional lives

Real-World Applications

• Communicate effectively with Deaf individuals in personal and professional settings
• Enhance cultural sensitivity and awareness in diverse environments
• Improve overall visual communication skills
• Contribute to creating more inclusive spaces in workplaces and communities
• Pursue career opportunities in interpretation or Deaf education
• Engage with Deaf literature and art forms
• Advocate for Deaf rights and accessibility
• Develop a unique skill set that sets you apart in the job market

Syllabus

The course is structured into four comprehensive lessons:

1. Orientation and greetings
   • Visual nature of sign languages
   • Attentive observation and sign production
   • Greetings vocabulary
   • Insights into Deaf culture
2. Introduction and self-expression
   • Fingerspelling
   • Sign names
   • Family and hobby vocabulary
   • Exploration of hearing privilege
3. Numerals, days, appointments, and interpreters
   • Scheduling and appointment signs
   • Understanding the role of interpreters
4. Descriptive skills and literary appreciation
   • SASL signs for describing people
   • Introduction to SASL literature

Each lesson includes various sections with estimated timeframes to help you plan your studies effectively. The course materials are provided in English with SASL video content, featuring individual signs and brief sentences to develop your comprehension skills. You'll also have the opportunity to practice sign replication and test your progress at the end of each lesson.

Start your journey into the world of South African Sign Language and Deaf culture today!