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International Day of Sign Languages: Does sign language differ between countries?

Just as various parts of the world have their unique spoken languages, there is also a great difference in how countries communicate using hand gestures.

Kevin C. CoxAFP

Seven years ago, the United Nations declared Sept. 23 as International Day of Sign Languages to promote inclusion and the preservation of sign languages and deaf culture.

Sign language was developed due to the communication needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It’s a natural language that uses a combination of hand movements, facial expressions, and body language to indicate meaning.

The heart of this method is the use of hand movements or signs, each representing words, concepts, or ideas. These symbols often visually resemble the object or action they represent, but many are also abstract and have no visual connection to their message.

People with impaired hearing learn to interact using these methods, and this helps them exchange ideas with other people, socialize, and share their thoughts.

This language also helps deaf children in their educational development, including sharpening cognitive skills, learning academic concepts, and socializing with their peers.

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International Day of Sign Languages: Does sign language differ between countries?

Knowing one type of sign language doesn’t mean you can easily communicate when you find yourself in another part of the world.

Just like spoken languages, this method of communication emerged organically within a certain area. Different regions developed their own rules of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary which grow and evolve over time. This resulted in a wide variety of sign languages around the world, with no one “universal” system.

According to National Geographic, there are more than 300 sign languages used across the globe, spoken by more than 72 million people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

American Sign Language or ASL is the most commonly used in the United States. It is believed to have possibly evolved from French Sign Language more than two centuries ago.

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