Can two deaf people from different language speaking societies understand each other with sign language?

Question

What I mean is, is sign language universal?

Answer 1

Sign language is as particular to a nation as the spoken language.

However, it is easier to understand basics when signing to someone from a country other than mine than it is to understand when speaking my language to that person.

There are regional and generational differences in sign language within the US that often confuse those who live here, meet one another at conventions, and chat socially.

ASL is a beautiful language. I wish more of you would learn how to sign and use it often.

Answer 2

no, sign language isn't universal.

it's possible that two deaf [or hard of hearing] people from societies which speak two different languages could understand each other through sign language, but that's highly dependent on what societies they're from. otherwise, they'd probably be able to communicate not much better than hearing people.

wikipedia:
"In principle, and without too much error, one could state that each spoken language has a sign language counterpart in as much as each linguistic population will contain deaf members who will generate a sign language. In much the same way that geographical or cultural forces will isolate populations and lead to the generation of different and distinct spoken languages, the same forces operate on sign languages and so they tend to maintain their identities through time in roughly the same areas of influence as the local spoken tongues. This occurs even though sign languages have no relation to the spoken languages of the lands in which they arise. There are notable exceptions to this pattern, however, as some geographic regions sharing a spoken language have multiple, unrelated signed languages."

Answer 3

sign language (also signed language) is a language which uses manual communication instead of sound to convey meaning - simultaneously combining handshapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to express fluidly a speaker's thoughts. Sign languages commonly develop in deaf communities, which can include interpreters and friends and families of deaf people as well as people who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves.

When people using different signed languages meet, communication is significantly easier than when people of different spoken languages meet. Sign language, in this respect, gives access to an international deaf community.

However, contrary to popular belief, sign language is not universal. Wherever communities of deaf people exist, sign languages develop, but as with spoken languages, these vary from region to region. They are not based on the spoken language in the country of origin; in fact their complex spatial grammars are markedly different. However, various signed "modes" of spoken languages have been developed, such as Signed English and Warlpiri Sign Language. Hundreds of sign languages are in use around the world and are at the core of local Deaf cultures. Some sign languages have obtained some form of legal recognition, while others have no status at all.

Answer 4

NO. Sign language is NOT universal. There are many different national varieties and the fact that many complex words are spelled out using the spelling of the spoken language rules out any universality

Answer 5

Contrary to popular belief, sign language is not universal. Wherever communities of deaf people exist, sign languages develop, but as with spoken languages, these vary from region to region. They are not based on the spoken language in the country of origin; in fact their complex spatial grammars are markedly different.

Answer 6

NO SIGN LANGUAGE IS NOT UNIVERSAL

There are many different sign languages. Even within English speaking countries there are many types, for example there are British sign language and American sign language which are completely different.

Answer 7

No. In the U.S., people learn American Sign Language. In other countries, many of the signs are different. Although some signs ARE shared, it's not enough to communicate.

Answer 8

There are different sign languages, just as there are different spoken languages.

Answer 9

No. There are actually multiple versions of sign language, many of them developing independetly from one another.

Answer 10

yes for almost all people. sign language is an international language of its own. however, there is a sign language in one of the canadian territories (i forget which one) that is about to be recognized and it is only spoken there.