Random House Webster

1
Random House WebstersAmerican Sign Language
DictionaryCompact Edition

• Michael Conyers
• LIBR 150
• Spring 2009

2
Bibliographic Information

• Call Number 519.703 C8242R
• Citation - Costello, Elaine. Random House
  Webster's American Sign Language Dictionary. New
  York Random House Reference, 2008.

3
Arrangement and Indexing

• Table of Contents listed by subject
• Preface, introduction, guide on how to use the
  dictionary, abbreviations, handshapes and manual
  alphabet fingerspelling are preambles to the
  dictionary itself
• The alphabetical dictionary makes up a bulk of
  the book, and is followed by specialized sections
  Days of the Week, Colors, Pronouns and
  Geographical References
• There is no index provided

4
Table of Contents

• Preface Why This Dictionary?
• Introduction American Sign Language in Context
• Deafness and the Deaf Community
• The Nature of American Sign Language
• In Conclusion
• Guide How to Use this Dictionary
• What this Dictionary Contains
• How to Find a Sign
• How to Make a Sign

• Abbreviations Used in this Dictionary
• Handshapes Used in this Dictionary
• Manual Alphabet and Fingerspelling
• Dictionary
• Days of the Week
• Colors
• Pronouns
• Geographical References

5
Currency

• This title was revised and updated in 2008 based
  on the Random House American Sign Language
  dictionary originally published in hardcover in
  1994. This has the most recent vocabulary and
  signs available in print.

6
Scope

• This book features over 4,500 signs
• Thousands of cross references.
• An extensive alphabetical dictionary of signs for
  easy reference
• Helpful guides on how to use the book and apply
  signs

7
Intended Purpose

• This is a compact version of the hardcover
  dictionary and it is intended to be used as a
  reference for signing anywhere. It is geared
  towards beginners as the preface gives guides on
  how to use the book, and a background on sign
  language. Continuing with that theme the
  definitions are purposely made easy to understand
  with an illustration for each sign.

8
Additional Purposes Served

• This book can be used by students and teachers,
  especially children as the illustrations are
  large and full torso. This make it easier for
  young people to mimic.
• Can also be used by parents to teach toddlers
  early basic signs before they can speak. This can
  let parents know when the child wants to eat, is
  sleepy and other simple communications.

9
Format and Special Features

• Format
• Paperback, single volume book, xl, 581 p. ill.
  24 cm.
• Also available in hardcover and a larger
  unabridged version containing 5,600 signs and a
  subject index
• Special Features
• Full torso illustrations of each sign
• Lists alternate signs for the same meaning, and
  different signs for different meanings of the
  same word
• Compact size makes it easy to carry in purse or
  small bag, although not pocket sized

10
Authority

• Author Dr. Elaine Costello has worked with the
  deaf community for over twenty five years as an
  educator and author. She holds a Master of
  Science Degree in deaf education from the
  University of Kansas and a doctorate in
  instructional technology from Syracuse
  University.
• She has published 62 works in 114 publications.
  Her most widely held work is Signing how to
  speak with your hands with 7 editions printed
  between 1983 and 1995 and is held by 2,356
  libraries worldwide.

11
Examples of Reference Use

• Questions that could be asked which this book
  might help answer
• Q How do I properly make a handsign when using
  sign language?
• A Refer to Guide section of the book, How to
  make a sign, which gives descriptions and
  hints.
• Q How do I say Hello in sign language?
• A Look up word Hello in dictionary section.
  Gives an explanation of what to do, along with
  an full torso illustration of the motions to
  make.

12
Complementary Sources

• Random House Webster's Unabridged American Sign
  Language Dictionary (Hardcover)
• This book is the larger more complete version
  of the compact edition. It contains 1,100 more
  uncommon signs and a subject index.
• Getting Started In Signing (DVD)
• This DVD offers step by step lessons on how to
  sign by the American Sign Language Dictionary
  author, Dr. Elaine Costello. This offers a visual
  supplement to the dictionary and features over
  800 signs.
• Both of these titles can be used to help one
  learn sign language at home, and the compact
  edition of the ASL Dictionary can be used as a
  reference when needed in public

13
Personal Impression

• This book stood out to me over other sign
  language dictionaries because of the full torso
  illustrations. Sign language does not just
  consist of hand signs, but also involves body
  motion, so to me this helped a lot.
• I had interest in this book as I have a 14 month
  old son who is just learning to sign with us,
  very basic signs like Im hungry and Im tired.
  As Ive tried it with him I found it to be very
  easy and fun to do.
• There is more of a physical feeling to
  communication with handsigns. Id compare it to
  listening to music (just talking) and dancing to
  music (signing). You just have more of a chance
  to get into it. Thats my best explanation as
  to why its fun to do.
• Looking at the fingerspelling chapter it seems
  challenging, but not impossible. Just like a
  foreign language, if you can practice with one
  who knows the language I feel as if it would be
  easy to catch on.

14
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