| Wanting to learn sign language is fast becoming very | | | | Welcome |
| popular, and not only for the deaf, even though they | | | | To go one step further you can welcome them. With |
| are still the ones who predominately use it. It seems | | | | your palm facing inwards touch your forehead and |
| these days' new moms (to teach signing to their | | | | then move your hand down in an arc towards the |
| babies), schools and even linguist's want to learn it. | | | | middle of your chest, like you are welcoming |
| The most popular signing language (with estimates of | | | | someone towards you. |
| nearly 2 million people) is American Sign Language | | | | Happy to meet you |
| (ASL) which currently has nearly 1300 different signs | | | | Now lets say tell them that we are happy to meet |
| to learn and over 10,000 different combinations | | | | them. First you do the sign for happy which is |
| (making that ACTUAL number of ASL signs difficult | | | | touching your chest with closed fingers using both |
| to know for certain). | | | | hands and moving your hands in a circular motion like |
| While it is beyond the scope of this article to teach | | | | you are stirring up emotions of joy, then add the sign |
| you all 1300, let's learn a few basic signs that you can | | | | for meet which you hold both index fingers out in |
| start using right away. | | | | front of you about a foot apart, pointed up, palms |
| Hello | | | | facing each other. Then you bring them together like |
| To greet someone and say hello using ASL hold your | | | | two people meeting. Finally point at them to say 'you'. |
| hand up, palm outwards, to your forehead like a | | | | So there you have it. A simple greeting in ASL. Of |
| salute although not quite as rigid, and then wave your | | | | course if you want to learn sign language properly |
| hand outward so your palm is facing forward just a | | | | there are many more combinations to learn but that |
| few inches from your forehead. | | | | should get you started. |