I heard that if you're in another country, the sign language for nonverbal people is quite different, is that true? I am just trying to learn a sign language. And if it is... why? I can't understand it, so please bare with me. I am not being rude here.
2006-10-02 10:54:19 · 9 answers · asked by Pivoine 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Yes, that is quite true. It would be nice if all nonverbal people were able to use the same system of signing, but it doesn't work that way.
The original sign language involved using two hands and spelling out letters to make words. It was slow, and clumsy, but it was a breakthrough. However, it was often difficult for the nonverbal person to have both hands free to 'talk'. So another system was developed, using a single hand, but still based on spelling out words.
As people began using these systems, they developed their own 'shorthand' -- that is, a sign or gesture that stood for a word or a whole phrase. It was much quicker and easier than spelling out every single word.
At about this time, the notion of teaching hearing impaired children to speak and to lip read became popular, so there were two schools of thought -- hand sign, or lip read and children were taught one or the other.
Other countries around the world were going through similar struggles with the problem of how to communicate with the profoundly deaf and, more importantly, how they could communicate with others.
To accommodate this, various sign languages were developed and as they were put into use, they underwent subtle changes.
Today, there are a number of 'languages' and even in Amerslan (American Sign Language), there are regional 'accents'. People on the West Coast don't make their signs quite the way people on the East Coast do.
Your best bet is to learn the language of the country where you live, and where you will be most apt to use the signing.
Congratulations on trying to learn the sign language. The more people who take the trouble to learn it, the easier it will be to communicate with those who have difficulty with speech and hearing.
2006-10-02 11:05:08 · answer #1 · answered by old lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no such thing as a universal sign language for all countries, nations and cultures.
Just as languages differ, sign language differs. Many countries have words in their vocabulary that have no meaning in others.
2006-10-02 18:00:06 · answer #2 · answered by north79004487 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do a web search,go to library,check out some book stores,work with some who uses sign language.
2006-10-02 17:58:31 · answer #3 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there are more than one, but most signs are similar between them. I know of ASA American sign language & BSA British Sign Language. There's also pigeon types of each. Do a web search.
2006-10-02 18:02:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are several sign languages. There is even a baby sign language that exists.
2006-10-02 18:01:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just want to chime in with the quire and agree. We have a Swedish sign language and it's different from other sign languages.
2006-10-03 02:21:20 · answer #6 · answered by *duh* 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am from Northern Ireland, where catholic people use one sign language and protestant people use another incompatible sign language. Just shows why we have been blowing each other up for all those years.
2006-10-03 16:26:45 · answer #7 · answered by blah de blah de blah... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi Dear
well you guessed right its not only one sign language
there are many diff sign languages
main its american sign language & British Sign Language
n there are many more
so means what u learn was good but might b u were checking diff sign languages thats why u didnt understand
CHECK THIS LINK ITS WILL SURELY HELP YOU AS ITS MENSON ALL CHARECTORS
http://www.deafblind.com/worldsig.html
>~>~>SsaazzuU<~<~<
2006-10-02 18:04:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, sign language is universal.
2006-10-02 17:59:55 · answer #9 · answered by ambrosia d 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋