Is deaf and dumb sign language international or doe's each country have it's own version ?

Answer 1

Yes - there is an English language programme on Radio 4 each Thursday

Answer 2

No, most countries have their own. Some have the same alphabet, but even that isn't universal. For example, the sign for the letter "t" in ASL (American Sign Language) is the equivalent of flicking someone off in British Sign Language (or so I was told)

http://www.deafblind.com/worldsig.html this has graphics of some varying alphabets (this is also just a really good site, it has the deafblind alphabet, too)

Here is a list of different sign languages, and the countries where they are used: http://library.gallaudet.edu/dr/faq-world-sl-name.html

Also, Deaf and Dumb is not politically correct, and Hearing Impaired is politically correct in the hearing world, but is considered offensive in Deaf culture. The proper terms are Deaf, deaf, or Hard of Hearing.

Answer 3

There are different versions of sign language in different countries. American Sign Language is different from the British signing and other countries also have their own versions. One only occasionally uses finger spelling (to spell out a name or a particular word, for example) and most signs indicate a complete concept (or word). Finger spelling is fairly universal whereas signing is not. I believe that American Sign Language has its history, at least in part, in the need for Native Americans to communicate when they had no common language, so it is not originally a 'language of the deaf'.

'Deaf and dumb' is now rather 'politically incorrect', by the way"!

Here is a version of the Lord's Prayer as it would be read by someone signing in ASL (American Sign Language). Try and read beyond the quaintness of the way it sounds to an English speaker! Each sign means a number of different things, of course, depending on the context and repeated signs just emphasise the meaning.

You, in heaven, your name shiny.
Your plan peace world successful.
Your plan earth, heaven follow the same.
Give us good, we inspire, every day.
We wrong, wrong, wrong, you forgive us.
Other people wrong, wrong, wrong hurt us, you help us forgive them
Tempted off the point, you help us back to the point.
Terrible confused we wander into it, you pull us through.
Why? All over your control, your strength, your wonderful.
Yours from now on. Amen.

Here is an ASL dictionary:
http://www.masterstech-home.com/ASLDict.html

Addition: With regard to 'mutes'. People may be mute for many reasons - either through a physical disability or for social reasons. There are Australian tribes amongst whom it is forbidden for the women to speak for varying lengths of time if a relative dies and very complicated sign languages have developed. I know this because my brother has written a definitive monograph on the subject! I believe signing systems have evolved amongst Trappist monks, as well.

Certainly, people who cannot vocalise may be quite capable of hearing and understanding language. Signing is more generally used, I think, by people who cannot hear. Currently I believe a system of lipreading assisted by signs (called signed speech) is very much encouraged. Here the signs tend to represent sounds and are intended to help a lip reader to distinguish between lip movements that look the same but would produce different sounds.

I am a hearing person but my wife has been a Teacher of the Deaf, so I have some interest in the subject.

Answer 4

Every country has its own version of sign language. For example, deaf people in the U.S. use ASL or American Sign Language. I recently visited Cambodia and they even have their own signs for their culture.
Also, when referring to someone who is deaf you might not want to call them deaf and dumb or use the phrase "deaf and dumb sign language." It's kind of insensitive. Just deaf or hearing impaired will work. When referring to sign language just say "sign language" or "ASL".

Answer 5

Makaton is a sign and picture based communication system for use by very small children or by people/children with special needs AND difficulties communicating.
Each country has its own version of a base sign language, hence BSL (British sign language) and ASL (American sign language).
I might point out that people who are 'dum', (one presumes you mean mute) would have no need of sign language to communicate in the same way a blind person has no need of a hearing aide.

Answer 6

Most countries have a similar base with variations on certain words. And the term is hearing impaired not deaf and dumb...

Answer 7

No,the deaf and dumb language is actually a cross dresser called brian,who sits infront of the telly in his high heels shouting at the telly eating his curds and way.or did i dream it?

Answer 8

Each country has its own version.

Answer 9

most countries have their own version, some are similar and some are as different as Chinese is to English

Answer 10

as far as i know its all the same. Its a Macaton system used world wide!