In the years since this book was first published, there has continued to be a steady growing interest in the sign language used by Deaf people in the United States. An important factor in this interest is the ever growing body of research on sign language structure. These research studies have been of immense value in providing new facts about American Sign Language (ASL) and other foreign sign languages to hundreds of thousands of people, both Deaf and hearing. However, in order for the information from these studies to be helpful to the adult second language student, it must be in textbook form. This textbook, A Basic Course in American Sign Language, now in a new edition, incorporates the latest information about ASL structure as well as widely used second language teaching techniques and learning strategies. This new edition of A Basic Course in American Sign Language retains the features which have over the years made it a bestselling ASL text. As before, the text is composed of 22 lessons. Within each lesson there are two to four basic explanations of the language structures to be learned. In each box there are examples and illustrations to explain the structure of the language. The basic format of A Basic Course in American Sign Language remains the same.