ASL         ESL 

American Sign Language (ASL): Independent language; visual manual mode;own grammar;own syntax; signs are meaning based; has dialects, regionalisms, slangs, puns; can be written; wide range of vocabulary covering minute differences in meaning; may borrow from other languages; is verbal, but also makes use of nonverbal elements.

Pigin Sign Language (PSE): A combination of elements fro ASL and the sign systems, ranging from the more ASL-like (occasionally called Ameslish) to the more English-like (sometimes called CASE-Conceptually Accurate Signed English). Usually contains few if any sign markers (see Signed English), yet makes frequent use of fingerspelled English words. Used in conjunction with speech in interpreting and college teaching. Signs are meaning based.

Signed English: Signed in accordance with English grammar, but signs are meaning based; specially invented sign markers for important affixes in English; invented by Bornstein; used widely in education.

Linguistics of Visual English (LOVE): Essentially the same as SEE 2 but has a method of writing each sign; used in education; invented by Wampler; usage is diminidhing.

Signing Exact English (SEE 2): Signs are word based; special signs for all affixes in English; signed in strict accordance with English; invented by Zawolkow, Pfetzing, and Gustason; widely used in education; very influential.

Seeing Essential English (SEE 1): Signs are based on word roots (morphemes) (trans/port/a/tion); and extreme form of word-based signs; invented by anthony; not popular in U.S., but still common in Iowa and Colorado schools for the deaf; signs for all affixes.

Finger Spelling: Manual representation of the written language; one hand shape for each letter of alphabet; used to borrow English words in ASL; when used with speech and speechreading, it is called the Rochester Method.

Cued Speech: Employs 8 hand shaped in 4 positions on face, and used in conjunction with lip movements to enable a deaf person to lipread more easily; based on sound with the syllable as the basic unit; devised by Orin Cornett at Gallaudet College.