Gestures and sign languages

New words
Primary sign language: a sign language that is the first language of a group of people who are typically deaf and do not use a spoken language (e.g. ASL), in contrast to an alternate sign language
Oralism: a method designed to teach deaf students to speak and read lips rather than use sign language
Primes: the set of features that form contrasting elements within the articulatory parameters of ASL

Study questions
1 Emblems are signals such as “thumbs up” (=things are good) that function like fixed phrases and do not depend on speech.
2 Iconics are gestures that seem to be a reflection of the meaning of what is said. Deictics are gestures used to point at things or people while talking.
3 An alternate sign language is a system of hand signals developed by speakers for limited communication in a specific context where speech cannot be used.