True2marie Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 By now, I am sure most people heard about the fiasco at Nelson Mandela's memorial service. The sign language interpreter messed up royally and conveyed gibberish through his signing. This whole event got me thinking. Is there one universal sign language? Maybe he was using a different form of sign language? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firelily99 Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Around the world there are many different types of sign language just like there are many different languages. the ASL or American sign language is not a universal language but other countries do incorporate a lot of it, at least in terms of some of the basic and more common signs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trellum Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I studied with deaf and dumb kids, and as far as I know there isn't an universal sign language. Sign language is as complex as your average spoken language, they even have slang words, those slang words have their own sign. I remember I learn the sign alphabet. The sign language is a really rich one, make no mistake Hehehe, they swore a lot at each other in that class! By the way, they believe that guy at Mandela's memorial has mental issues. I hope he gets the help he obviously needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorannmwin Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I would assume that most of the signs would at least be similar, but I really don't think that there is one universal sign language. I guess we would really need to get a person that is deaf to ring in on that one, in fact, I have a couple friends that are deaf and I will ask them about it.The sign language that I know a little bit of is ASL (American Sign Language). I would think that it would be called USL if it was universal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaKay Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Nope, there are many different types, just like there are spoken languages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamde Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 There are many types, even in each country...However, most people understanding basic motions like pointing, thumbs up, etc. That's how I get by in countries where I don't speak the language Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 As others have mentioned above, there isn't one universal sign language. Even in Switzerland alone there are many different types of sign language. At first I was really surprised, as I also had this thought that maybe there could be a universal sign language or maybe at least one dominant European Sign Language, a major american one and maybe an Asian standard. I've also heard about the fiasco at Nelson Mandelas memorial service but I have yet to see the video! Thank you for providing the link, I will definitely give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Hard Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Universal sign language would be. . .Some gestures that can interpreted to mean a particular thing anywhere in the world. If for example you don't speak the language but badly need something you could act out what you want. At worst your audience will mistake you for a idiot or you may pass across the message. The same thing applies with sign language. While they may learn some form of universal sign language, this can only be understood by those who know that language. So, these people with disabilities must learn to improvise. I guess that would account for why there are so many different sign languages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peninha Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 I am really surprised with this, what's the reason not to have a universal sign language? Is sign language a "transition" from the sounds of the national language?What happened with Mandela was from another world, I do agree with Trellum, that guys must have mental issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broknkyboard Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Unfortunately, no. There are around two hundred of them actually, some based on the area they originated from, others based on the languages of the country the language was created in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSLoveCharli Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Oh wow, now this is a mind boggling question! Since I do not know sign language, this question has never crossed my mind. But I would assume that since there are different languages, there would be some form of difference in sign language. Just my opinion, never researched it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daimashin Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I never knew that there are different sign languages. I'm always under the impression that there is only one type of sign language like braille. If it's true then what's the point in learning them if what you learned might not be understood by another? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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