ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

ASLwrite

ASLwrite is a system that helps people write American Sign Language (ASL) signs in a way that is easier to read and understand than other written systems. You know how you learn the letters of the alphabet, like A, B, C, and so on? You can use those letters to write words and sentences that other people can read. But what if you could write signs in a way that looks more like what your hands are doing when you make the sign?

That's where ASLwrite comes in. It uses special symbols that represent the movements and positions of your hands, arms, and body when you make different signs. For example, the symbol for the sign "hello" shows a hand waving back and forth in front of your face, just like you would do when you greet someone in ASL.

ASLwrite also includes symbols for facial expressions and other non-manual signals that are important in ASL. These signals can change the meaning of a sign, just like the tone of your voice can change the meaning of a spoken word.

So, with ASLwrite, you can write signs in a way that looks more like ASL, and that makes it easier for people who know ASL to read and understand. It's like creating a new kind of alphabet that is specifically designed for sign language. Cool, huh?