Other procedures for creating new signs have also been described, such as
compounding or giving a new meaning to an existing sign. In both cases, a
systematic modification of the sign takes place. Another way is to invent a
sign based on a mimed representation ( Klima & Bellugi, 1979).

ASL includes many signs for abstract ideas such as LOVE, FAITH,
BELIEF, and TRUST. Although some signs have an iconic element, they
function as symbols just like spoken words. When we read in a newspaper
article that "The U.S. Fleet is sailing in the Mediterranean," in our mind we
conceive correctly a fleet of large steel ships powered by oil-burning engines.
Given what we know about modern naval warfare, we do not imagine that the
U.S. Navy has acquired an armada of sailboats! We can abstract away from
the original meaning of the word "sail" and assign to it a new meaning that
applies to ships without sails. In the same way, even a sign that shows some
iconic element is not restricted to its original meaning. As the need arises,
signs take on new meanings.

ASL has ways of expressing nuances just as spoken languages do. There are
no limitations on what can be handled in ASL except those set by the choice
of topics normally discussed in that language by the members of the deaf
community. The assumption that ASL is limited to informal exchanges
because of inherent deficiencies in its vocabulary or lack of structural com-
plexity is without basis.

Word-for-word translations from one language to another often result in
ungrammatical or meaningless sentences as illustrated by the following French
sentences.

On the basis of these examples, it would be foolish to suggest that the French
language is ungrammatical.

The opinion that ASL is ungrammatical, or lacks a grammar, usually
results from a sign-for-word translation of ASL into English. It is based on
the assumption that ASL must be structured exactly like English. However,
ASL is an independent language with its own grammar and its own vocabu-
lary, and both are unrelated to English.

It is certainly true that ASL does not have some of the features found in
English. On the other hand, the latter language does not make use of such

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