Gallaudet Opportunities for Advancement and Learning

PST-374 Sign Language & Sign Systems

Course Overview

An introduction to the major features of languages and to the structure, use, and variation in the sign languages and sign systems commonly used in the United States. The course will cover four major topics: (1) Language: The nature and definition of languages, the uniqueness of language, and contrasts between language and other forms of communication; (2) Language and Culture: The role of language in human society, with special focus on language acquisition, language identity, and bilingualism; (3) American Sign Language Structure: A survey of the major features of the linguistic structure of ASL. Topics are: Phonology: the structure of the physical signals; Morphology: the basic structure and composition of meaningful units of ASL; Syntax: word order and nonmanual syntactic signals in ASL sentences; (4) Language Variation: Language variation and language contact in the deaf community, including discussions of contact varieties of signing and systems for representing English.

Permission of department; contact Paul Dudis with a CC to cce@gallaudet.edu

Program: Gallaudet Opportunities for Advancement and Learning

Credit: 3

Course Sections

Class: PST-374 OL1

Status: Open

Instruction Mode: Online Asynchronous

Dates: 5/18/2026-6/19/2026

Instructors: Pamela Wright

Cost: $993

Credits: 3

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Course Details

Prerequisite: Permission of department; contact Paul Dudis with a CC to cce@gallaudet.edu

Cross Listing: LIN 101

Tuition: $993