I wanna learn the deaf ( sign) language ….. Are there majore differences between american sign language or other nation’s sign lang. ? I mean…it’s only signs describing actions or things… Isn’t it a universal language?
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There are subtle differences between ASL and other sign languages accross the globe. For the most part, you can use ASL and everyone will understand you. There are some signs that require the use of a letter to indicate what word you are doing, and so therefore the letter is different in the other languages…but in general you can get your point accross. There is no universal sign language unfortuantely.
That’s awesome that you want to learn ASL though 😀 Have fun with it!
I believe so…..I dont think there should be any major differences.
No, it is not a universal language. American Sign Language is used in the United States and Canada, primarily. Other countries have their own. For example, in England and Scotland they use BSL or British Sign Language.
ASL is very much it’s own language, with it’s own syntax and grammer. It’s not just signs describing actions as you would consider a “gestural English”. It require you to put English aside and concentrate on ASL as it stands on it’s own, much the way you would learn any other spoken language.
Different countries have totally different language. Saying “it’s only signs describing actions or things” is like saying “English, French and Chinese are all just sounds describing actions and things – sure they should be universal?”
SOME signs are gestural and you could guess what they mean, but the vast majority of hand signs are completely arbitrary – meaning there’s no obvious, visible relationship between the sign and what it means. Therefore, signs for the same thing in different sign languages differ greatly.
The grammar (i.e. the way you put the signs together, facial gestures, etc.) is also very different. Some sign languages are related to each other, kind of like Italian and Spanish are, and ahve similarities, but they’re still all independent languages, and often not mutually intelligible.
Just like how spoken language is not universal, same thing with sign lanugage, it is not universal. I only have a few to add on top of the above answers. In ASL, we use only one hand to spell out the entire alphabet while in British Sign Language (BSL), they use two hands to spell out the alphabet.
You may find the same hand signs used in more than one sign language, but their meaning differs from each one. Like for example, the sign for “horny” in ASL would mean “German” in German Sign Langage. The sign for “toilet” in ASL would mean something really bad in Japanese Sign Language.
I have met two deaf Germans whom signed in German Sign Language only. They were staying at my place for a week visiting my roommate. It was very interseting to try to communicate with them. I did not understand GSL and nor did they understand ASL. So it was a challenge to try to communicate in more of a gestural, body language, and mime-like way to understand each other. So really ASL is not understood by other foreign signers unless they studied the meaning of the language.
Each sign language is just like learning the differences between Spanish and Italian. They may seem alike in some ways, but is unique in its own way.
Many people think that there is a universal sign language, just as there is no universal spoke language. Language is affected by culture and culture affects language. In Britten they do not say they are taking a nap, but they will take a kip. They also say they push the pram, in American we say we are pushing a baby stroller. There are differences.
As for ASL compared with other countries sign language, it really depends on where the language is derived from. ASL stems from French Sign Language and you will find many common signs between both languages. Brittan uses a two handed alphabet to sign where as ASL uses a one hand, just like the French. It all stems from how the country was educated on sign language and what influences each country had. Brittan had Delgano who invented the Delgano glove to teach Deaf students the alphabet. America had a person who came to the US who was signing French Sign Language (LSQ) and he did not have the influence of the delgano glove.
If you want to learn as you say, “deaf sign language”, the best way to do that is to go out and socialize with the deaf people in your home town or local area. They are the best people to teach you sign language.
Good luck on your journey of learning sign language.
Nope, it’s not a universal language! American Sign language (ASL) is used primarily in the US, Parts of Canada and the Islands owned by the US. It is most closely related to French Sign language because the people who brought ASL here were french! The sign for brother in mexico is the sign for F— here. Sign language from any nation can describe anything. You can talk about the weather, politics, future, abstract ideas, inventions, past, anything you can say in english, you can say in sign, just in a different way. Sign language has it’s own structure, culture, and rules. I would suggest taking a sign language course at a local college. It’s a beautiful, complex and very expressive language!
there are different kind of sign language like csl and asl and see and bsl. Many signs are the same but just like speaking many aren’t the same.