The notion that American Sign Language (ASL) mirrors English in a sign-for-word fashion is a common misconception. This perspective suggests a direct equivalency between the words of English and the signs of ASL, implying a simple substitution process. An example would be expecting a sentence like “The cat is on the mat” to be signed with individual signs representing “the,” “cat,” “is,” “on,” “the,” and “mat,” presented in that precise order.
The misunderstanding stems from a lack of awareness of ASL’s unique grammatical structure and historical development. ASL is a distinct language with its own set of rules governing syntax, morphology, and semantics. Its evolution is independent of English, drawing from older sign languages and developing within Deaf communities over time. Believing in a word-for-word translation disregards the rich cultural and linguistic heritage embedded within ASL. It also diminishes the complexity and expressiveness inherent in signed communication.
