Vocabulary review for:
There are different signed languages around the world. Even, there are different signs for 'sign language' in other signed languages.
How do you say 'sign language' in ASL?
Meaning: a language in visual-spatial modality (signing) used by Deaf people and signers; the opposite medium of vocal-aural modality (speech) used by hearing people.
Related signs: LANGUAGE, SIGN/WORD, DEAF, BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL, HANDSPEAK® (the name of this website).
Is sign language universal? No, there are different signed languages around the world, such as ASL (American Sign Language), BSL (British Sign Language), Auslan (Australian Sign Language), PLAINS INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE, and hundreds of other signed languages.
"Sign language is a human right, it is not just an option. Not a privilege." -- Meme, 21st century.
"I cannot understand how a language like sign language - the richest in expressions, the most energetic, the most advantageous in its universal intelligibility is still so neglected and that only the deaf speak it. This is, I confess, one of those irrationalities of the human mind that I cannot explain." -- Pierre Desloges, 1779.
"The belief that speech is central to language is an analog to the belief that earth is the center of the universe. The former is still practiced today -- hundreds of years older than the latter." -- Jolanta Lapiak, 2000s.
"Signed language" is a term equivalent to "spoken language". Likewise, Sign language to speech language.
American Sign Language (ASL) is itself a language rather than "a sign language", no less than spoken language, as no one says English, French, or other spoken-language is a speech language instead of "language". The existence of "sign language" implies a hierarchical system of reality and perception.
Another thing to deconstruct, people often say "I learned sign language", "I know sign language a little". Which language? Sign language. Which sign language? ASL. Okay. No one says "I'm learning speech language." Right? Which speech language? French? Spanish?
Review 101 words. Refresher.