Do you know the definition of ASL? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation ASL, including its definition, usage, examples, and more!
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Kevin
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July 20, 2021
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Common Questions
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What does the acronym ASL stand for?
According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the acronym ASL most commonly stands for American Sign Language. This natural language is used by the American deaf community in the United States. ASL has its own grammar different from English grammar that may sound like a whole different language to hearing people than spoken language or written English. While it uses the same English words, English speakers who are not deaf may find the construction of sentences very different. This predominant sign language of deaf communities in the United States uses ASL signs to communicate. In modern ASL, these are formed by a hand shape and facial expression. ASL grammar has a different grammatical structure than English and is the primate language of many North Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing. ASL is usually written in uppercase, not lowercase. Try learning some new phrases in ASL today to communicate with people you know who are deaf! Around the world, there are also different sign languages like British Sign Language and French Sign Language. These languages are complex, but with practice you will be singing in no time.
According to Dictionary, ASL can also stand for age/sex/location. This is used in online chats and social media like Twitter, Instagram, by TikTok users and online dating sites as a slang term to ask a person’s age, gender, and city. You would most commonly see this used in chat rooms or on an app like WhatsApp, especially in the earlier days of the internet. These new phrases may throw you for a loop, but don’t fret!
According to The Free Dictionary, the acronym ASL has many other different meanings that just American Sign Language or Age Sex Location. While these other definitions are still valid, they are less common and should be used with caution. If you do decide to use one of these alternate definitions, make sure that you provide the reader or listener with the proper context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning.
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Overall, the term ASL means either age/sex/location or American Sign Language. Age/sex/location is a term used in chat rooms to ask someone basic information about themselves. American Sign Language is a language used to communicate by or with a deaf person.Â
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