1) Sign languages are not universal and differ significantly across countries, with their own unique grammatical structures and rules.
2) While some sign languages were influenced by French Sign Language, all have developed distinct dialects within their own countries.
3) American Sign Language is a fully developed language with its own grammar and rules, but will not be understood in other countries without learning that sign language.
1) Sign languages are not universal and differ significantly across countries, with their own unique grammatical structures and rules.
2) While some sign languages were influenced by French Sign Language, all have developed distinct dialects within their own countries.
3) American Sign Language is a fully developed language with its own grammar and rules, but will not be understood in other countries without learning that sign language.
1) Sign languages are not universal and differ significantly across countries, with their own unique grammatical structures and rules.
2) While some sign languages were influenced by French Sign Language, all have developed distinct dialects within their own countries.
3) American Sign Language is a fully developed language with its own grammar and rules, but will not be understood in other countries without learning that sign language.
Worldwide Sign Language Dialects Introduction Title: Comparison of The goal of this American Sign Language Versus Worldwide Sign project is to provide Language Dialects an understanding Target Audience: Adults in regarding the nature the age bracket of 25-55 of deaf communication in various countries worldwide with the focus on America. Myths and Facts About Sign Languages Myths Facts Sign languages are Sign languages in each universal. country have their own People will understand dialect. other countries’ sign Sign language dialects of languages. each country will differ All sign languages have from region to region. the same grammatical Sign languages will not structures and rules. be completely understood or clear to foreigners who use sign language. Influences on Sign Languages
The majority of sign languages in
different countries were influenced by the French Sign Language system. Many countries had their own signing system prior to the exposure of FSL. Many countries modified some of the FSL and incorporated their sign language and the FSL into a complex language. ASL and Sign Languages of Other Countries ASL Other Countries’ SL A complete and complex A complete and complex visual-spatial, natural visual-spatial, natural language used by native language used by native users. users. Has no grammatical Has no grammatical similarities to English. similarities to spoken ASL is used and cherished by languages of their own the Deaf community. country. There are not many Sign languages of each documentations about ASL. country is used and cherished by the Deaf community. There are not many documents about sign languages in other countries. ASL and Sign Languages of Other Countries ASL Other Countries’ SL It has its own grammatical Sign languages of each structures: country have their own Syntax grammatical structures: Semantics Syntax Pragmatics Semantics Morphology Pragmatics Phonology Morphology It contains gestures, non- Phonology manual markers, classifiers, Each sign languages contain fingerspelling, etc. gestures, non-manual markers, classifiers, fingerspelling, etc. Differences Between ASL and Sign Languages of Other Countries Signs used for expressing words and the manual alphabet are different from ASL. Some signs that are acceptable in some countries may be offensive in other countries. The structures and rules of the languages will vary from country to country. Japanese Sign Language
Fingerspelling in JSL was not introduced until
the early 20th century. Fingerspelling is influenced by Spain, France, and the United States. Older folks don’t know fingerspelling and numerals. It is not standardized like ASL. JSL rely on mouthing the words for clarification; whereas ASL uses initial letters of the English words or fingerspelling for distinguishment. Canada The dialect is very different from ASL in the United States and has regional differences in Canada from east to west. Most signers from eastern Canada use ASL, but with some British Sign Language vocabulary. Structurally and grammatically distinct from Quebec Sign Language (LSQ). Auslan
Auslan recently was pulled from the
words Australian Sign Language, but the language is not new. It is very complex in grammar and lexicon. The language is not purely gestural. Some signs are iconic, but it is mostly arbitrary; similar to ASL. Mexican Sign Language
LSM and ASL are complete different languages.
Strongly influenced by Spanish vocabulary and initialization. LSM uses more initialization for clarification compared to ASL. It is not seen as a negative strategy, nor is it viewed as “hearing” signs like that in ASL if a signer used initialized signs borrowed from English words. Summary of Different Sign Languages Sign languages are not universal as many people think. Each sign languages have their own grammatical structures and rules. People will not be able to understand sign languages of other countries no matter how fluent they are in their own sign language unless they learn that language. Each sign language dialect is as unique and complex as spoken languages. References
Nakamura, Karen (2002) “About
Japanese Sign Language.” Website. <http://www.deaflibrary.org/jsl.html> WA Deaf Society. 25 July 2002. The Western Australian Deaf Society Inc. 30 October 2002 <http:www.wadeaf.org.au/index.shtml> References continued American Sign Language: A Language of USA. July 2002. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 14th Ed. Dec. 2001 <http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?_c ode=ASE> Faurot, Karla, Dianne Dellinger, Andy Eatough, and Steve Parkhurst. The Identity of Mexican Sign as a Language. June 1999. <http://www.sil.org/mexico/lenguajes-de- signos/G009i-Identity-MFS.pdf>