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fermented's review
5.0
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review for Netgalley.
A Historical and Etymological Dictionary of American Sign Language is an absolutely amazing read! Any language nerd or linguist or history buff (even "ASL-impaired" hearing people who do not know ASL) would find this book fascinating.
If you use and love American Sign Language, you will learn so much from this book! It debunks a lot of the popular stories about where certain signs come from.
This book is very carefully researched. It is laid out like most ASL dictionaries, but with the addition of historical and etymological information. Many drawings of ASL signs are accompanied by their ancestral LSF (langue des signes française) sign.
The "horns" - meant to pierce the evil eye in pre-Christian Mediterranean cultures - are the basis of the signs for DECEIVE, IRONIC, MOCK, WORSE, and in LSF, MAUVAIS (bad,) DANGER, FAUX (false,) FAIRE ATTENTION (be careful,) and TROMPER (deceive).
If you think that's interesting, then check out this book.
A Historical and Etymological Dictionary of American Sign Language is an absolutely amazing read! Any language nerd or linguist or history buff (even "ASL-impaired" hearing people who do not know ASL) would find this book fascinating.
If you use and love American Sign Language, you will learn so much from this book! It debunks a lot of the popular stories about where certain signs come from.
This book is very carefully researched. It is laid out like most ASL dictionaries, but with the addition of historical and etymological information. Many drawings of ASL signs are accompanied by their ancestral LSF (langue des signes française) sign.
The "horns" - meant to pierce the evil eye in pre-Christian Mediterranean cultures - are the basis of the signs for DECEIVE, IRONIC, MOCK, WORSE, and in LSF, MAUVAIS (bad,) DANGER, FAUX (false,) FAIRE ATTENTION (be careful,) and TROMPER (deceive).
If you think that's interesting, then check out this book.
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