American Sign Language as a Foreign Language. ERIC Digest.

This digest provides a brief overview of American Sign Language (ASL) and discusses its study as a foreign language in U.S. schools and institutions of higher education. The following questions are addressed: (1) Is ASL a language?; (2) If ASL is used in the United States, how can it be considered a "foreign" language; (3) Are ASL users in this country part of a different culture; (4) Is there a body of literature in ASL?; and (5) Is ASL easier to learn than other foreign languages? A 10-item list of ASL resources is provided. (Contains 10 references.) (Author/JL)