SIGN LANGUAGE Quick facts

Who uses: Primarily deaf and hard of hearing and their friends and families learn American Sign Language, but it's attracting a growing number of hearing students.
Visual element: ASL relies on gestures, facial expressions and body language.
Structure: The silent language has its own grammatical rules, often described as almost the reverse of English.
Hurdle: Demand for ASL courses is outpacing the availability of trained teachers.
Source: Associated Press