The Joy of Signing: The Illustrated Guide for Mastering Sign Language and the Manual Alphabet

by Lottie L. Riekehof

Teaches sign language in senteces rather than individual words. Includes graphic drawings, index, and additional learning tools.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Education, Self Help, Linguistics, How To

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Dr.Lottie L. Riekehof has been associated with deaf people, sign language teaching, and interpreter training for many years. She was one of the first to promote the signing of music and has successfully trained a number of choral groups in the presentation of signed interpretations of well-known songs.

Lottie Riekehof was born 1920 in Germany to Henry and Laura Riekehof, and was the oldest of four children. In 1923, Riekehof, with her parents and younger sister, Ruth, immigrated from Lage, North Rhine-Westphalia to Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Dr.Riekehof is Professor of Sign Communication at the world's only liberal arts college for the deaf, Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Previously she was engaged in teaching and research at New York University's Deafness Research and Training Center, where she earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. She has also been a member of the faculty of Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where she was actively involved in the training of interpreters as well as deaf college students.

Considered one of the leading interpreters in the nation, Dr.Riekehof has been in demand at the highest levels and was the platform interpreter for President Reagan's first inauguration ceremony.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read through this many times when I first got it. It was by far the best resource for learning some American Sign Language. Of course, since I’ve had nobody to practice with or converse with for over 20 years, I’ve forgotten all I’d learned. But I still have the book and it remains a helpful reference book.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many signs are outdated. The book is well organized and lovely but it is in desperate need of a revision.

[Bailey Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the EASIEST book if you're wishing to learn ASL. It was what we used in college and it really does make the language simple (or as simple as it can be for a beginner) and fun to understand. A total must for the "communication disorders" major in all of us.

[A.C. Ham · Rating 3 out of 5]

don't learn ASL from books! they get outdated and won't well represent how the language functions in your specific area!

that being said, I have used this to learn sign from videos (by using the recommended signs in the book and finding recent recordings of them) and the index at the end explaining hand shapes and their varying meanings, as well as how to use the signs is very helpful for new learners :)

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite useful.

As it is an older edition, some signs have changed.

One small comment is the choice of signs. There are 17 pages devoted to Christian signs and much of that space could have been devoted to other signs. Also, not entirely sure a very beginner needs to know the sign for parliamentary.

Mostly, exceptionally useful.

[Stephanie (Luna) Hu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is very informational. I refer back to this book lots of times. I even though I marked that I finished the book, I still haven't learned all of the signs in the book yet. I haven't looked at a few pages yet too.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book to use for teaching yourself ASL! I bought this book for an adult ASL class, but we rarely used it. I personally find it extremely helpful and a great resource! I recommend this book along with videos!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very unique!

[John Moore]

A must-have for ASL students!

[Erica Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is OK. There are many better options.

[Nelida Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so AMAZING!! Recommended

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did actually read this book once a long time ago, but I've retained very little of the signs I read about.

[Abby Paull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally, I liked the sign for abortion

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Signing seems hard but I do want to learn it

[Kathy Kellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super good resource!

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Joy of Signing: A Dictionary of American Signs is a comprehensive guide for mastering the current basic signs used to communicate with deaf people in either the word order of the English language or in the American Sign Language pattern.

This book serves as an entry (A book on a topic you know nothing about) in the Toronto Public Library Reading Challenge 2019. It was rather difficult to find a book that I know absolutely nothing about, but by chance, I found this book while passing by my local bookstore.

The Joy of Signing: A Dictionary of American Signs contains over fifteen hundred signs divided into twenty-five sections with a nifty index at the back. The signs are pictured rather clearly as well as the description of how to use the signs. There are several essays on how to use sign language, the history, and the hearing-impaired culture in general, which was rather informative.

While I am far from fluent in the language, at the end of the book, I could finger spell, know my numbers, and some of the more common nouns and verbs that I use daily. I could probably have a short conversation with a hearing –impaired person – if they signed rather slowly and having me spell some words when I do not remember or know a particular sign. However, being fluent in any language could take years of practice.

All in all, The Joy of Signing: A Dictionary of American Signs is a wonderful and comprehensive book of about fifteen hundred of the more common signs, which was partition in a logical and straightforward manner.

[anca dc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift while I was in high-school. That was the time when I started to be interested in deaf people and their sign language. At that time I was dreaming of starting to be involved in the small community of deaf people from my town but, against the fact that I tried, it didn't lead anywhere. Since than I kindda of abandoned this dream but the desire to have some kind of connection with death people, to enter in their world was still deep down in my heart. Starting with this year I've changed jobs and it seems the time has come :) 'cause there's a deaf guy on my shift. :) It is time to have some fruits for my waiting, right? :) The Joy of Signing! :)

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book pieces together sentences for you somewhat. It is a help if you aren't sure how to really put together words but if you are trying to learn then a dictionary is more useful. I did go through this several times to see just how some stuff works. This is more of a bonus learning book though rather than something you want to rely heavily on. If you want to learn sign language though then I suggest you try several different books. This one is a decent one for sentence structure.

Happy Reading All!

[Marlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went to a sign language class with the family and enjoyed it so much that I bought the Joy of Signing. My granddaughter and I had a great time learing new words and also taught ourselves how to do the Our Father. I've always liked shorthand and signing but have never spent the time it takes to make me profecient at either one. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. A little knowledge is better than none at all.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sign language reference book has occupied a spot on my shelves for over 20 years. It is set up similar to a dictionary, with chapters where related signs are grouped together. There is also a large index at the back of the book to enable the user to easily look up a specific sign, and the illustrations for each sign are well drawn and easy to understand. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in learning the basics of sign language.

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to learn sign language from; the illustrations are clear and well-explained, including origins of the signs to help you remember them. Instead of being grouped alphabetically, the signs are grouped by subject, such as people, pronouns, household, etc, so that you can get a sense of the similarites between related signs.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a must have for anyone who is learning or wants to learn sign language. It is so easy to look up any word. The words are grouped by categories, and the illustrations are easy to understand. I have never become a pro at sign language like I wanted to about 20 years ago when I was a teenager, but sometimes I still look up words and figure out how to sign things!

[LuigiDeluxe]

Extremely Helpful- A Must Needs!: Anyone involved in or interested in sign language, I highly recommend you purchase this book. I am involved in a sign team at our church & this book has been very helpful in looking up signs to our songs. It is a GREAT learning tool!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to learn the basics of Sign Language. Any beginner should have a copy.

[Hilary Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended to me by my sister & her husband (a sign-language interpreter). Working to build my sign skills in time for the arrival of my new niece.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this book for years but gave to someone who would use it. Never got it back .. that okay. This book helps .

[Moose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so consumed by my sign language class that I have not read a real book since joy luck club!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference guide. Highly recommended.

[Ashak]

hi

[Kathryn Bauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reference for story time signing.