this is kind of a dumb question... but I don't know much about sign language....?

Question

I don't actually know anyone who speaks sign language, but I've always wondered about people who do speak it in other countries. for example: If some one spoke... let's say... french, and spoke sign language, would they speak it in french... or in english. I mean I figure it would be in french because that is the language they speak after all. But i want to know for sure. I mean, if they had to spell something out... they would spell it in french right...?

Answer 1

They would speak "sign language" in Sign Language.

A specific sign is associated with a concept. Whether you define that concept with an English, German, Spanish or French word is irrelevant because the concept is the same.

Different countries have different sign languages.

For example: Although the USA, Great Britain and New Zealand all use English, they have different sign languages.

ASL - American Sign Language
BSL - British Sign Language
NZSL - New Zealand Sign Language

There are some DRAMATIC differences -- especially when it comes to finger-spelling!

The biggest difference is that ASL uses one hand to finger-spell. BSL & NZSL require TWO hands to finger-spell.

BTW: I always put "Signed Exact English" and "ASL" in my list of FOREIGN LANGUAGES on my resume.
.

Answer 2

Think of it more as being bilingual in a sign language and a spoken language. There are many sign languages, just as there are many spoken languages. And the places where a particular sign language is used will not necessarily be the same as where a spoken language is spoken.

A Deaf American generally knows ASL and English. She will fingerspell English words using ASL signs. A Deaf Briton knows BSL and English. (BSL and ASL are not the same language.) He will fingerspell English words using BSL signs, which are not the same as the ASL signs.

ASL is not just English done by hand. There are some major fundamental differences - word order isn't always the same, some words that are required in English are not in ASL ('the' comes to mind).

Answer 3

They are very different. Not only are there different symbols, but in certain countries the symbols of a different sign language are dude. (For example, don't do the ASL signs for F, K, M, N, P, or T in most European countries)

Answer 4

All sign languages are different....just like spoken language.

Answer 5

I believe that sign language is a universal deal...I may be wrong though.