Learn Sign Language Online

Unless someone has a family member, friend, or a coworker who is deaf and uses sign language we really don’t pay much attention to it. The beautiful actress Marlee Matlin has done a lot to raise the awareness of the general public of sign language through her movies and television appearances. People learn sign language for a number of reasons, if you may want or need to learn sign language; it has become very convenient to learn it online as well as by taking classroom instruction.

There is a world of ignorance about what sign language is and is not. One major misconception is that sign languages are spoken words being acted out! Although signs may look like the verbal words, they stand on their own they are not an imitations. Sign language can be used to discuss any subject from a very basic theme to something that is very complex and detailed.

Sign language is made up of signing and fingerspelling. Fingerspelling uses the hands to form letters of the alphabet. American Sign Language, ASL, has 26 characters to correspond to the 26 letters of our alphabet. Fingerspelling is used when you need to express a branded name, proper name, location or any type of specific for which there is no sign. There are far more words in the spoken vocabulary than there are signs and thus the need for fingerspelling.

Signing on the other hand is an entire intricate language that uses signs formed by the hands and other motions. These motions include using facial expressions as well as body movement. Signing makes it possible to express yourself more clearly than verbally because more parts of the body are used and more information is being expressed.

Sign language and a spoken language do not necessarily go hand in hand. They evolved differently and are independent of each other. An interesting fact is that Americans and the British both speak English yet ASL, American Sign Language, and BSL, British Sign Language, are totally different. JSL, Japanese Sign Language and ASL actually have more in common!

Another mistaken belief is that there is one universal sign language. That could not be further from the truth, there are many sign languages used around the world. Just as the spoken languages evolved in different parts of the world though varying traditions and location, sign languages also evolved that way. This had nothing to do with the verbal languages of that country or location.

English is the dominant language in New Zealand, the United States, most of Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. ASL is only used in the United States in the majority of Canada not those other countries. Another example is Mexico and Spain. They both have Spanish as their primary language and yet the two countries do not share the same sign language. There can be some different variations of the sign language within a single country like there can be different regional dialects. A country can have several recognized spoken languages but only one official sign language!

Here is a list of some of the global sign languages:

British Sign Language- BSL
Danish Sign Language – DSL
Finnish Sign Language
Norwegian Sign Language
Icelandic Sign Language
Swedish Sign Language
Japanese Sign Language
Taiwanese Sign Language
Korean Sign Language
French Sign Language
Italian Sign Language
Quebec Sign Language
American Sign Language
Irish Sign Language
Russian Sign Language
Dutch Sign Language
Spanish Sign Language
Mexican Sign Language
Brazilian Sign Language
Austrian Sign Language
Hungarian Sign Language
Czech Sign Language
Bolivian Sign Language
Thai Sign Language
Ugandan Sign Language
Kenyan Sign Language
Philippine Sign Language
Malaysian Sign Language
German Sign Language
Polish Sign Language
Israeli Sign Language
Flemish Sign Language
Slovak Sign Language
Polish sign language
Arabic Sign Language
Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language

At International events for the deaf like World Games for the Deaf there is an International Sign Language. It is called Gestuno which is Italian meaning oneness. Other than that it s not used a great deal.

When and why do people want to learn Sign Language?

  • Anticipation of their own, or a loved one’s hearing loss.
  • Job Necessity
  • Simple Desire to learn Sign Language
  • College course requirement
  • To assist at speaking events
  • Become a Sign Language Interpreter

Some statistics show that 90% of children who are born deaf have parents who are deaf. For these children, they begin to learn Sign Language from the beginning. Also some hearing children can be born to deaf parents and they too learn signing early on. There are all kinds of variations and situations involved.

Sign Language is beautiful to watch even if you don’t understand it. In the United States, ASL is the fourth most common language used. Learning sign language is very much like learning any foreign language. We always want to know what the best way to learn anything is. The sage advice would be to find the method that works best for YOU. As with all language learning you have to come with dedication to learn and be willing to practice a lot.

Old fashioned flash cards work beautifully with practicing Sign Language, you can find some online that are printable flash cards. The fact that they are not verbal makes them ideal. Book stores and libraries are full of books you can bring home to help with learning or you can buy them online. Speaking of online learning, there are tons of websites that are loaded with information as well as signing videos like American Sign Language University.

If being in a classroom situation is something that suits you best, there are plenty of sign language classes that are being offered. Check online to see where they are locally, the yellow pages,www.yp.com, or check with a nearby community college. In a classroom you’ll get to practice with other students which can help you become fluent.

We have not only become a global world in terms of language but we have also become globally conscious of special needs. Now it is a great time to broaden your skills and learn another language, Sign Language could be at the top of the list. There are endless possibilities today for deaf people to do and become whatever in life they choose. Today famous deaf people can be found in arts and entertainment, sports, and all professions. There are also a lot of job opportunities for people who know Sign Language.