It could be the universal language. For instance, if everyone in every country was taught to sign, you could travel anywhere and be able to talk with people. Bathroom might be a different word in another language, but the same sign would be learned.
2006-09-08 11:39:08 · 11 answers · asked by Sydmom 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
The only problem with your suggestion is that all countries of the world would need to agree on a universal sign language, which isn't now being taught. Being fluent in American Sign Language won't help you when you travel to Japan or Germany or Argentina.
As a special education teacher, I sign a little bit, but I really prefer for my non-verbal students to use Picture Communication systems rather than sign. The reason for this is that the vast majority of people do not sign or understand sign language, so the ability to sign fluently (unless you are a member of the deaf community) is a little like being a fluent speaker of an obscure dialect. In contrast, virtually everyone can understand what is being communicated when it is done with pictures or icons. That could much more easily be a universal language, and no special training would be needed.
2006-09-08 11:53:47 · answer #1 · answered by sonomanona 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just to add to what previous responders have said...not only is sign language different by country, it's also got regional variations within the United States that use different signs for different words. Sorry, good thought, but the only universal language is still love... ewww!
2006-09-08 23:35:15 · answer #2 · answered by rpcvpacific@sbcglobal.net 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're silly. Sign language is just like any other language. Asking why they don't teach sign language in all the schools is like asking why they don't teach Japanese in all the schools. Japanese could be the universal language. Plus far more people already speak Japanese than sign language. If everyone spoke Japanese, you could travel the whole world and talk to everyone in Japanese.
2006-09-08 18:43:04 · answer #3 · answered by lynz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It'd be national, but not universal. It'd be very cool, especially when you're at a public event trying to communicate with friend. There's the issue of privacy though- you can always lower your voice, but you can't lower your sign language to keep your conversations private. There's also the issue of preserving heritage and culture. While it's great to be able to communicate with others, it's nice to have a language to call your own. I'd hate to lose all of the amazing languages our world has.
2006-09-08 23:38:51 · answer #4 · answered by elizabeth_ashley44 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You got a point. Also, Indian sign language. I think all the tribes understand it. Their language is a little tough to learn but not difficult to pronounce with a little practice. Hey nice shot of that bird. You an artist?
2006-09-08 18:41:29 · answer #5 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each country has its own sign language. Sign language is not international. However it would be quite interesting to teach it at schools, although i don't know what the response would be
There exists an intersnational sign language. You can learn more about it here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Sign_Language
2006-09-08 18:43:51 · answer #6 · answered by elle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
at the high school i went to the students had that option to learn sign language. but if u think about it, everyone really doesnt need to learn it cause not everyone is def, maybe a lil spanish maybe to help the overflowing numbers of mexicans and hispanics here
2006-09-08 18:43:00 · answer #7 · answered by rugbrat86 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people don't have the dexterity (or the hands) to perform sign language
2006-09-08 18:48:11 · answer #8 · answered by rules27 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the colleges I went to would let you take ASL as a foreign language. And that was back in the 80's.
2006-09-08 18:42:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there's English sign language... that wouldn't be universal.
2006-09-08 18:41:04 · answer #10 · answered by PaulN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋