World Language

American Sign Language IV builds on the skills developed in ASL I-III, introducing over 500 new vocabulary words and focusing on refining clarity of signs, non-manual markers, classifiers, and ASL grammar, including glossing and word order. A significant emphasis is placed on naturalizing spontaneous conversations and public speaking through various prompts, such as Deaf advocacy, daily devotionals, sermons, interpreting ethics, and personal passion projects. Students will delve into the linguistic structures of ASL, including phonology, morphology, syntax, and sociolinguistics, while applying complex grammatical principles like temporal and distributional aspects. In addition to developing essential interpreting skills, students will practice both in class and in the field with experienced professionals. The course includes a final mastery evaluation similar to the National Interpreter Certification proctored by Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI), does not result in a legal certification.