What is American Sign Language?

American Sign Language （ASL）is a complete, complex language that employs signs made by moving the hands combined with facial expressions and postures of the body. 【小题1】 It is also one of several communication options used by people who are  deaf or hard of hearing.

Is sign language the same in other countries?

No one form of sign language is universal. 【小题2】 For example, British Sign Language（BSL）is a different language from ASL, and Americans who know ASL may not understand BSL.

【小题3】

The exact beginnings of ASL are not clear, but some suggest that it arose more than 200 years ago from the intermixing of local sign languages and French Sign Language （LSF）. Today's ASL includes some parts of LSF plus the original local sign languages , which over the years have combined and changed into a rich,complex, and mature language. Modern ASL and modern LSF are distinct languages. 【小题4】

How does ASL compare with spoken language?

【小题5】 But for people who are deaf （particularly those who are profoundly deaf）, the sounds of speech are often not heard, and only some speech sounds can be seen on the lips. Sign languages are based on the idea that vision is the most useful tool a deaf person has to communicate and receive information.

   Communication is part of our everyday life. Humans are social beings and we need to _______ other people. When we communicate, we can _______ both spoken and written language. But are they _______? The answer is “No”. Sometimes we have to communicate by using body movements instead of _______. This is called body language. Body language is very important in our life for several _______.

Firstly, it makes our communication more colorful. It’s really _______ to imagine a conversation without any body language _______. How dull and boring it will be to just talk without any gestures, facial expressions _______ any other body movements! Body language makes our talking more _______ and interesting.

Secondly, it makes our communication more ________. Sometimes a gesture or a facial expression can make us more easily and quickly understood. ________ a good speaker for example: his or her body movements will help him or her leave a deeper and stronger impression on ________.

Finally, sometimes we have to use body language. On some occasions, we are not allowed to speak ________. Examples of this are in the library or in the ________ classroom. Then body language will be quite ________. Also, when we meet someone in the street, there is no need for us to ________ for a chat, so a nod or wave of the hand may be OK.

Your body language sends a strong message to others, so be aware（意识到）that ________ you have your arms folded across your chest while you talk, you are ________ others out, for example. If you land an interview, mind your body language, ask good questions, and convey ________ and enthusiasm. Your body language indicates your level of self-esteem. So ________ body language is a crucial（关键性的）part of meeting someone new and cannot be overlooked.

Learning a second language

   There are some differences between American English and British English. Some differences are quite interesting.

When my friend Lily from London used the word "larder", I didn't know what it meant. Realizing I didn't follow her, she used another word. I finally knew she wanted to find something to keep some food.

The next word came up when we were planning a lunch date. She jotted down the date and time in her diary, while I marked my calendar. If she called me on the phone, she would ring me up. But if the line was busy, she would say the line was engaged.

Most times, I can know what Lily means. Last week, she regretted sending her boys to watch an early morning tennis game without their fleeces. I thought that she meant without their jackets or something like those. Other times, we have to ask each other. She recently told me a funny tale about a woman who was pissed. I wondered what had made the lady angry. It turns out that pissed means drunk.

Here is one more example. My British friend Jane was filling out a ticket at the grocery store（食品杂货店）recently. She asked the young man if he had a rubber. When she noticed he didn't follow her, she quickly asked for an eraser, which, in England, is often called a rubber.

In order to communicate well with the British, we Americans should learn some words that the British use differently. And I think people who learn English as a second language should also realize that there are differences between American English and British English.

Thank you for listening！