Exploring the Diverse World of Signed Languages: ASL, BSL, and Auslan
Sign languages, much like oral languages, belong to various families and exhibit a range of similarities and differences. Just as one might find Spanish and French to be related yet distinct or Hungarian and Japanese to be entirely unrelated, signed languages offer a rich tapestry of linguistic diversity.
How Different Are Different Sign Languages?
The question often arises, 'How different are different sign languages like ASL, BSL, and Auslan?' To answer this, let's compare them to their oral language counterparts. Imagine someone asking, 'How different are different oral languages?' You might say some languages are very similar, like Danish and Norwegian; some are somewhat similar, like French and Spanish; some are somewhat different, like German and Italian; and some are completely different, like Hungarian and Japanese. The same principles apply to signed languages.
ASL, BSL, and Auslan: Siblings in Signed Language Families
British Sign Language (BSL) and Australian Sign Language (Auslan) are close siblings, similar to Danish and Norwegian. They share a high degree of mutual intelligibility, leading some linguists to suggest they are dialects of the same language. Alternatively, American Sign Language (ASL) is more distant from BSL and Auslan, akin to Hungarian and Japanese. This is because ASL belongs to a different family, the French Sign Language Family, whereas BSL and Auslan are part of the BANZSL (British, Australian, New Zealand Sign Language) family.
BANZSL Family: A Closer Look
BSL and Auslan are part of the BANZSL (British, Australian, New Zealand Sign Language) family, which also includes New Zealand Sign Language and South African Sign Language. This family tree demonstrates how these signed languages are interrelated but still distinct. They share structural similarities and can often be understood to some extent, making them close but not completely cohesive.
ASL Family: Part of the French Sign Language Family
ASL, on the other hand, belongs to a different family—namely, the French Sign Language Family. This family includes most signed languages spoken in Europe, parts of Africa, the Americas, and Asia. This broad family means that ASL is more distant from BSL and Auslan, reflecting the linguistic diversity within the signed language community.
Case Study: A Failed Attempt at Communication
To illustrate the differences, consider a situation where an ASL user, previously fluent in ASL, was asked to assist a BSL user. Despite the user's efforts, there was no mutual intelligibility. This experience highlights the significant differences between ASL and BSL. While ASL and Auslan can often be understood to some extent due to their family relationship, ASL and BSL have distinct features that make them incomprehensible to each other without additional learning efforts.
Other Signed Language Families
Another notable signed language, Israeli Sign Language (ISL), exhibits different characteristics. ISL shares some mutual intelligibility with ASL but much less with BSL. This shows how signed languages can belong to the same family but still have varying degrees of relatedness.
Conclusion
While there are numerous signed languages, they can be classified into families based on their linguistic features and historical development. BSL and Auslan belong to the BANZSL family, which provides a high degree of mutual intelligibility. ASL, part of the French Sign Language Family, is more distant and less comprehensible. This diversity within signed languages adds richness and complexity to the field, emphasizing the unique nature of this linguistic domain.
FAQ
Q: Aren't all sign languages the same?
A: No, sign languages are diverse and can belong to different families. Some are closely related and share mutual intelligibility, while others are distinct and require specific learning efforts to understand.
Q: Should there be one official sign language?
A: Achieving a single official sign language is challenging due to the linguistic and cultural diversity of the signing community. Each signed language reflects the unique cultural and historical context of its users.
Q: What is the difference between ASL and BSL?
A: ASL and BSL are distinct languages, with BSL belonging to the BANZSL family and ASL to the French Sign Language Family. While they share some similarities, they are largely incomprehensible to each other without additional learning.