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Learn about the history of sign languages, whether a universal sign language exists, and the challenges of developing a global sign language.
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered how deaf people from different countries communicate with each other? With hundreds of sign languages used around the world, is it possible to have a universal sign language that anyone could understand?
In this article, we'll explore the fascinating world of sign languages, looking at their history, diversity, and whether a truly global sign language could ever exist. I'll share my insight as an experienced blogger aiming to make complex topics simple and accessible for all. Stick with me and you'll gain a deeper appreciation for sign languages and the communities that use them daily.
History of Sign Languages:
Sign languages have been around for centuries, arising wherever deaf communities exist. Each country tends to have its own native sign language that developed naturally over time. For example, American Sign Language (ASL) emerged in the early 19th century from a mix of home sign systems and French Sign Language.
British Sign Language (BSL) has roots dating back to the 16th century and is still used today across the UK. Other sign languages like Japanese Sign Language (JSL) and Russian Sign Language (RSL) also evolved independently to serve deaf users in those regions.
It's estimated there are over 300 different sign languages worldwide. Each has its own unique grammar, syntax, and vocabulary tailored to the deaf community and culture that uses it. Sign languages are fully-fledged natural languages, as complex and rich as spoken languages. The key difference is they exist in a visual-spatial mode rather than through sound.
Diversity Among Sign Languages:
Given their independent evolution, most sign languages are not mutually intelligible. An ASL user would struggle to understand BSL or JSL. There are some related sign language "families" like French Sign Language and American Sign Language that share some lexical signs due to common ancestry. But on the whole, deaf people from different nations cannot freely communicate through sign.
Sign languages also exhibit regional dialects, similar to accents in spoken languages. ASL, for example, has notable variations between East and West coast signs. BSL also has distinctive regional dialects across England, Scotland, and Wales. Even within the same country, sign languages can vary significantly by region.
Possibility of a Universal Sign Language:
With so many diverse sign languages out there, is it possible to create a universal sign language that could be understood globally?
There have been some attempts:
Gestuno:
Created in the 1970s as an international auxiliary language, Gestuno uses signs and grammar common to many sign languages. It was intended for international deaf events but never reached widespread adoption.
International Sign:
A pidgin-type mix of signs drawn from various national sign languages. International Sign is often used at global conferences and meetings to bridge communication gaps. But it has a limited vocabulary and relies heavily on mime and gesture.
Sign Language Esperanto:
This constructed sign language invented in 2013 took vocabulary and structure from ASL, BSL, and other major sign languages. But like spoken Esperanto, it is not widely used.
Challenges of a Universal Sign Language:
While a universal sign language seems appealing in theory, there are significant challenges:
Preserving existing sign languages and deaf culture - Creating a new global sign could endanger the richness of established signed languages that are integral to deaf identity.
Grammar/structure variations across sign languages - Choosing one common syntax would favor some languages over others.
Regional accents and dialects - A universal sign language would need to be flexible enough to accommodate diverse regional sign variations.
Ongoing evolution of sign languages - Like spoken languages, sign languages constantly evolve and change over time. A "universal" language would be difficult to maintain.
Adoption incentives - Deaf users already fluent in their native sign language may have little incentive to learn a new global sign.
For now, the extensive diversity of localized sign languages seems likely to continue. But improved technology is breaking down communication barriers at international events. Interpreters and real-time translation apps can now quickly translate between many different sign languages.
Sign Writing: Capturing Signed Languages on Paper
While signed languages are primarily visual-spatial in nature, various writing systems have been developed to capture these languages on paper. One such system is known as Sign Writing, originally created in 1974 by Valerie Sutton. It is a way of visually representing the handshapes, movements, and facial expressions of sign languages through written symbols.
Sign Writing aims to be a universal writing system capable of transcribing any sign language. It consists of a set of iconic glyphs that are spatially arranged to reflect the sequencing of signs. The handshape, orientation, location, and movement of the hands are depicted, along with facial expressions and non-manual markers. Symbols sit on a common center line indicating the signer's body.
The development of Sign Writing began in dance choreography, as Sutton sought to record dance movements through pictures. She then applied this pictographic process to American Sign Language (ASL), collaborating with deaf signers to develop an effective transcription method. Sign Writing soon spread internationally and has been adapted for many different sign languages.
For deaf communities, Sign Writing enables the transcription of cultural stories, language teaching materials, dictionaries, and other publications into sign languages. It allows deaf children to read and write their native language. Sign Writing has predominantly been used for annotation purposes rather than general everyday writing. It serves as a useful tool for sign linguists analyzing grammatical features of sign languages.
However, Sign Writing has faced challenges to widespread adoption. Some find the symbolic notation cumbersome compared to glossing. Keyboarding the symbols can also pose difficulties. There is a learning curve to remembering the hundreds of glyphs. Ongoing refinements aim to streamline the system and improve its accessibility.
Sign Writing provides a standardized means of transcribing signed languages in their natural form. As Sutton noted, “Sign languages are real languages that have just never been written before.” This unique writing method captures their fluid motion and meaning on the page. While not yet in mainstream usage, Sign Writing opens exciting possibilities for recording and studying sign language and Deaf culture.
What "International Sign" refers to:
International Sign is a pidgin-type contact sign language used to facilitate communication between deaf people who do not share a common sign language. It evolved naturally at international deaf events and conferences as a practical means for signers from different countries to interact.
International Sign blends simplified grammar and vocabulary from various national sign languages, augmented by improvised gestures and mime. Signers build a shared impromptu language using signs familiar to many countries, finger spelling, and pantomime to get meaning across. It has no stable syntax or morphology.
The lexicon of International Sign draws heavily from American Sign Language and other Western sign languages. Signers may modify or simplify signs to make them more universally comprehensible. Iconic gestures like pointing or hand shapes representing objects are also incorporated.
International Sign is not a full natural language like national sign languages. It has a limited vocabulary and relies heavily on non-manual cues like facial expressions, lip movements, and body language. Context and extra-linguistic information are used to aid understanding.
It serves as an important communication bridge between deaf people at multinational events.
Skilled International Sign users play a key role in conferences and meetings by interpreting between international signers and their own national sign language. International Sign allows basic communication on a global level, though not to the extent of national sign languages.
In summary, International Sign is an emerging contact signing system used internationally to allow basic communication between sign language users from different countries and linguistic backgrounds. It facilitates exchange at global deaf events and conferences where a common natural sign language does not exist.
Here are some tips on whether to learn British Sign Language (BSL) or American Sign Language (ASL):
If you'll be interacting with the Deaf community primarily in the UK, focus on learning BSL. It's the native sign language used across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
If your main interactions will be in the US, Canada or other North American countries, ASL is likely the better choice as it's widely used there.
Consider which media and resources you want access to. For example, lots of online ASL learning content exists due to the large US user base. BSL has fewer learning resources.
Look at who offers certified courses in your area. That can often dictate which sign language is more accessible to study.
Factor in any travel plans or future moves. Learning the local sign language of where you'll be living is helpful.
Both BSL and ASL share some commonalities due to influence from French Sign Language. But they remain mutually unintelligible.
Don't worry about "which is better." BSL and ASL are both rich, expressive languages with unique cultural elements.
Many talented interpreters can translate between international sign languages as needed. So you don't necessarily have to be fluent in multiple.
Consider learning sign language basics or fingerspelling initially, which can aid communication across sign systems.
So in summary, let your specific situation and community needs guide whether BSL or ASL is the better choice. The key is giving yourself solid access to Deaf culture and sign language users in your area, rather than fretting over which language is "ideal" globally.
The Sign Language Community:
Despite the lack of a universal sign, the global deaf community is increasingly connected thanks to technology, social media, and international events. Multi-lingual signers act as crucial links allowing signers from different backgrounds to communicate. Within their own regions, vibrant deaf communities continue to use the sign language native to their culture.
Sign languages may not be universal, but the shared experience of deafness helps unite signers across borders. That diversity is what makes the worldwide community – and their many languages – so rich and vibrant.
So while we may never see a single global sign language, technology and improved understanding between cultures is helping signers communicate regardless of geography and language barriers.
Here are 7 conversational FAQs that could help dominate the "People Also Ask" section for this topic:
Q:Why are there so many different sign languages?
A:Great question! Sign languages evolved naturally within deaf communities, so each country or region developed their own over centuries. Since deaf people were often isolated, their sign languages took independent paths based on their culture and language. Pretty cool how sign can adapt to suit different groups!
Q:What's the most widely used sign language today?
A:That would likely be American Sign Language (ASL), used by around half a million people in the US and increasingly in other countries. Chinese Sign Language, French Sign Language, and Japanese Sign Language also have huge numbers of users. But there's no one dominant global sign language.
Q:Are sign languages just gesturing with your hands?
A:Nope, sign languages are complex natural languages with their own grammar and rules just like spoken languages. They can convey abstract ideas just as well as spoken tongues. Signers don't just gesture wildly - though that would make communication pretty fun!
Q:Could a universal sign language ever be invented?
A:In theory, yes! Constructed universal sign languages like Gestuno have been proposed. But getting buy-in from deaf communities worldwide would be tough. Existing sign languages are deeply cherished. And regional variations like accents would likely persist. But who knows, maybe one day we'll all be signing together!
Q:How do deaf people communicate internationally?
A:Great question! Interpreters are crucial for major events, translating between multiple sign languages. "International Sign" is used to bridge gaps. Multi-lingual signers help facilitate diverse conversations. And mobile tech allows real-time translation. So deaf folks find creative ways to connect!
Q:Are sign languages dying out with advances in technology?
A:On the contrary - sign languages are thriving! Though tech improves accessibility, sign remains central to deaf identity and culture. Most deaf people strongly value learning sign from a young age. Far from declining, sign language use is growing thanks to greater inclusion and awareness.
Q:Can hearing people learn sign language?
A:Absolutely! In fact, more and more hearing folks are studying sign as a second language. Children of deaf adults often grow up bilingual. Sign languages are a valuable skill for anyone in education, healthcare, or public services. And it helps build bridges between the deaf and hearing communities!
Conclusion:
Sign languages have developed in remarkable ways all over the world due to the innate human urge to communicate manually and visually. With over 300 diverse sign languages in existence today, there is no universally shared sign language spanning the globe. Constructed universal sign languages have been attempted but not gained widespread adoption. Significant challenges remain in creating a global sign system acceptable to all.
However, the international deaf community continues to find new ways to connect across cultures through emerging technologies, multi-lingual signers, and a shared sense of identity. The diversity of signed languages is something to be celebrated, not replaced. Though we may never have a single universal tongue, the desire to communicate will continue bringing the global deaf community together across borders, languages, and cultures.