Are there different kinds of sign languages and can we can answer that question relating to American Sign Language through some Q&A’s?

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON OF ALL THESE LANGUAGES USED?

That would be American Sign Language (ASL).

This is used in the USA, Parts of Mexico, Canada, and with just a few modifications in Africa, Asia, and Central America as well.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN ASL?

It can take from 60 to 90 hours to learn plus some practice time just to memorize the sign book.

Most students learn to string these words into the passable syntax (word order) and can have conversations with a Deaf person

HOW DOES ASL DIFFER FROM OTHER SIGN LANGUAGES?

A sign language does not represent any specific spoken language as they were developed in deaf communities and societies that are independent from their surrounding spoken language counterparts.

For example, ASL is quite different from British SL even though the spoken language is spoken in both countries!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASL AND BSL?

The first and most obvious difference is ASL uses one-handed fingerspelling whereas BSL uses two-handed spelling.

Two other very important differences are that the sign for “Hearing Person” in BSL is the same as ASL for “Deaf” and though similar to ASL, BSL uses the middle finger and index finger together to make the hand movements in signing.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN ASL AND FRENCH (LSF)?

ASL and LSF are more closely similar than BSL, as sign language was brought to North America in 1816 by a Frenchman, Thomas Gallaudet and this historical relationship developed this very close similarity between the two.

IS THERE AN INTERNATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE?

As there was an attempt to invent an international sign language called Gestuno, the naturally evolved signed language was the overall winner in the end.

Even though the ASL is used in the USA and English Canada there are many dialects to ASL

HOW MANY DIFFERENT SIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS ARE THERE?

There are now between 138 and 300 different types of sign languages worldwide but more evolving continuously amongst the deaf children and adults globally.

So the next time you see or want to know more about the sign languages please note subtle differences which you must learn before attempting to “speak” to a deaf person as you might just “say or do” the wrong thing and insult a “Deaf” person by using the wrong dialect or language.