American Sign Language

**Deafjeff** · 01-03-2010, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dawn

So is it very different from BSL?

I work with a deaf boy at school and I know a few basic signs. Mostly learnt from Mr Tumble but hey, it all works. :thumbs:

Hi,

Yes it is quite different to British Sign Language.

Mr Tumble is using makaton signs which is quite different to BSL as BSL has it own grammar....

Jeff

**Dawn** · 01-03-2010, 04:42 PM

Now I'm really confused.

**Claire** · 01-03-2010, 06:07 PM

They teach BSL at my son's school but my brother does makaton!

**Ursula** · 01-03-2010, 08:11 PM

I learnt BSL and learnt that different regions have accents like we would have speaking.

**Tinkfan** · 01-03-2010, 08:47 PM

Maybe a dumb question but why isn't it universal? I realize that expressions are different but you would think that it would be almost the same as long as you weren't speaking in slang.

**Deafjeff** · 01-03-2010, 09:05 PM

It same for many languages, it not English all over the world hence Sign Language is no different. (It would be really boring if it was the same all over the world!

)

**Tink** · 01-03-2010, 09:27 PM

ASL is like BSL in that it has syntax and grammar and is the language of the Deaf American. It evolved with the influence of Le Clerc...

There is also Signing Exact English, and Manual Sign Language here. It's frowned on by the Deaf Community, but SEE is used for politcal translation, ect (like you see on TV).

Becca, of course you can!