if you use sign language is it the same in all languages?

Question

IS IT THE SAME IF YOUR CHINESE OR GERMAN IS IT A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. MY 6 YEAR OLD SON WANTS TO KNOw

Answer 1

No. There are many sign languages although some signs can be understood by other languages. British and American sign languages are different.

Answer 2

No, each country has its own official Sign Language.
In the old days, each area of the country had its own unique dialect as well; so the sign for 'red' may still be different in different parts od the country. Thats because Deaf people and communities all developed their own Sign Language independantly of each other.
It was only with improvements in travel and communication that British Sign Language became standardised, and only at the end of the last century that it became recognised as a genuine language.
In some areas of the country, Deaf children are still denied sign language, which means that they can reach the age of 7 (the age at which you can have the cochlear implant operation) without the benefit of language. In other areas of the country, child sevices are better informed, and parents are encouraged to learn sign language so that their kids don't fall behind in their education.

The link is for CAP; looks like a few people might be interested in visiting. Sign language has nothing to do with pictures; it is a genuine abstract language.

Answer 3

No. American sign language is for America only. Every country has their own but there are consistencies in the languages, so most of the time people can recognize and understand what you're trying to say.
I've seen an indian movie where a girl was using sign language and I could understand most of what she was saying.

Answer 4

Wow, what a great question. I would think so just because the words we speak are just spoken differently but words formed in sign are simply "pictures" formed with our hands. I would also think that the way the words are put together in sign would be different but the "pictures" formed with the hand are universal just like showing someone a picture of a bird...all languages know what that is. Your six year old asks good questions.

Answer 5

nope. there's american sign language (ASL), British sign language, and a load of other sign languages for different regions. They all have different alphabets, grammatical structures, and vocabulary (signs). Some of them have signs that overlap. I think American Sign Language was derived from French Sign language, or vice versa, so that's what it's closes to. ASL is widely used, however: in Canada, Mexico, and many Asian and African countries.

Answer 6

Hi,
No it's not - while some signs are similar even the fingerspelling alphabet can be different.
Here we use BSL - British Sign Language - I once chatted with a deaf guy in a restaurant in Gran Canaria using fingerspelling and don't speak Spanish.

Try to teach him to fingerspell - my gran taught me 35 years ago - it's very rewarding and fun if his pals do it too!

Answer 7

I only know bits and piece of ASL - American Sign Language.

I'd be very closed minded to think that we are the only ones to develop unspoken language. LOL You have a very precocious six year old.

Answer 8

No - it isn't. The one used in the USA is called "ASL" for American Sign Language.

Answer 9

No sign language for the blind though.

Answer 10

That's one smart & inquisitive kid!

Show him this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language

and get him a book on ASL. One day he'll meet a deaf person and will astonish them.