Free eBooks The Joy Of Signing (Second Edition) Available To Downloads

                
              
Free eBooks 
The Joy Of Signing (Second Edition) Available To Downloads
Teaches sign language in senteces rather than individual words. Includes graphic drawings, index, and sadditional learning tools.
Age Range: 8 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Gospel Publishing House; 2nd edition (1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0882435205
ISBN-13: 978-0882435206
Product Dimensions:  8 x 1 x 10.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:  4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (174 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #28,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)   #16 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Sign Language   #4626 in Books > Textbooks   #9107 in Books > Children's Books
I am a beginner to sign language, but I have found the Joy of Signing to be the most useful book of all the ones I've seen. The pictures are very well drawn (much better than my dictionary or the other teaching books I own). I like the division by catetory rather than the dictionary format, because it is often easier to learn related words together. The index in the back makes finding the word you want very simple. Remembering new signs is easier because the origin of almost every sign is listed, and these work as memory aids. I have been learning sign language for a year, and although I have never taken a class and am therefore not very good, nearly every word I do know has come from this book. I highly recommend it.
The Joy of Signing was in use in 1990 at the University of Pittsburgh when I started my studies there. When I was told I had to take a foreign language, and I started laughing because I am totally deaf...the advisors/university 'allowed' me to take ASL to fulfill those requirements. This book continued to be used until the mid '90s, because it was accessible to everyone and had the best drawings of any book on the market. As with most dictionaries of a 3-dimensional language, this one is inadequate in that it cannot give a full representation of the sign. It was also insufficient in that it based its format on that of the English dictionary, which is a totally different language than ASL. Rather than basing it on the structural components of ASL, the dictionary brought up words in alphabetical order. Since so many words have multiple meanings and so many signs are used for multiple words, this format is very difficult to look through to find an accurate sign. It is also not as useful as other books for Deaf people who are looking for specific English words to their signs.The use of videos and video streaming photography on the computer has allowed the introduction of ASL as a 3-D language. Even though other books (usually with videos) have replaced The Joy of Signing at Pitt and I am sure at other universities, the book holds a fond place in my heart and on my shelves. The authors are commended for the introduction of ASL to a generation of people and for helping in promoting ASL as a true language in its own right. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
This was the text I used in my first sign language class. When I first took sign language, it was beeing taught as Siglish (Signed English) and this was the perfect text for beginners. Lottie Riekehof has done an excellent job of assembling the best signs for beginners and each lesson contains enough variety to keep students engaged.This text should not be used to teach yourself sign language, however. While I consult this book for a refresher and a reference, I can't imagine how I'd be signing if I hadn't had a real human instructor explain the idiosynchrocies of signing. Signing is much more than the hands, the entire face and body are needed in expressing not only emotion, but meaning... the signs for "shy" and "prostitute," for example, are very similar looking and could not be properly distinguished by a text alone.If you're starting a study group or a class, or even if you're taking a class and using a different text, this is a great book to have on your reference shelf.
The Joy of Signing is a fine book for starting to learn the signs used in the Deaf community. But, one must realize that there are a number of signs presented that are not used in ASL (the language of the Deaf community). If you are looking to learn Signed English, then you'll do fine; but if you want to learn ASL, you may just want to go to another book since this one is based on English, not ASL. If you're interested in ASL, consider "A Basic Course in American Sign Language" (O'Rourke). If you just want to learn some signs to get by, "The Joy of Signing" will be okay.
Sorry folks...but save your money and buy a different book. The Joy of Signing was first written waaaaay back in the late seventies (around 25 years ago), and there's been better books that have come along since then, along with a far better approach to learning how to sign. (Signing Naturally, Learning American Sign Language, etc.) The people who continue to use this book are likely those who have never taken a recent training course on teaching ASL, but who are using the fact they know sign language as their qualifying criteria. There's more to teaching sign language or ASL than just being Deaf or knowing the language. This book might teach you SIGNS, but it won't teach you HOW to sign, and it definitely won't help you when it comes time to actually try and communicate with a culturally Deaf person. Instructors of sign language today are taking a more linguistical approach, that teaches ASL as a language in its own right - not just a manual-visual form of English. This book doesn't teach you the language, it merely teaches you the vocabulary. If you just want to learn a couple of signs to communicate with your Deaf neighbor or co-worker, then fine...get this book. But if you are truly desiring to learn to communicate effectively with the Deaf Community, work with Deaf people, become an interpreter, or the like...there are better books out there that may cost more money, but in the long run, be more effective for your purpose. I'm Deaf, a graduate of Gallaudet, and nationally Certifed Deaf Interpreter (CDI) and certified Sign Language Instructor who works in an Interpreter Training Program. I haven't used this book in years, and I have yet to find an Interpreter Training Program that does!
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