American Sign Language (ASL) is the predominant sign language used in the United States and Canada, with various dialects such as Caribbean Sign Language found across other parts of North America.
ASL has its grammar, syntax, and culture that you will find nowhere else. It is a visual language that uses hand shapes, facial expressions, body postures, and movements to communicate.
ASL has its unique means of communication, with distinct accents. Unlike English, which we hear spoken around the globe in numerous dialects, there are many different varieties of sign languages worldwide.
Is ASL a Universal Language?
ASL is not a universal language. ASL is the most commonly used sign language in North America, but other countries have different sign languages that are specific to their region or culture. For example, in France, they use French Sign Language (LSF), and in Mexico, they use Mexican Sign Language (LSM) as their main sign language.
Each of these languages has its own unique set of signs and grammar rules, so even if you can speak ASL, it is unlikely that you will be able to understand or communicate with someone who speaks an entirely different sign language.
Which countries use ASL?
American Sign Language is the most widely used form of sign language in the United States and Canada, but it is also used in many countries around the world.
ASL is officially recognized as a language in several countries, including:
- Australia
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Chad
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- France
- Gambia
- Liberia
- Kenya
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Sierra Leone
Additionally, there are other countries where ASL-like languages have been developed due to contact with Deaf communities from the United States, such as Nicaragua and Taiwan.
Check this list for all the countries that use ASL.
How Was ASL Created?
ASL was created over 200 years ago by a deaf French educator, Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épée. He developed it in the late 1700s as a way for the deaf to communicate and be educated.
His methods were based on an apprenticeship system, which meant he spent time with individual deaf children teaching them sign language words and concepts. His method of instruction spread throughout Europe and eventually made its way to America in the early 19th century.
By then, ASL had evolved into a unique language that incorporated signs from both French Sign Language (LSF) and Americanized signs from Martha’s Vineyard. This led to the development of what we know today as American Sign Language (ASL).
There are several other signed languages around the world, including:
- British Sign Language (BSL) which originated in Britain,
- Irish Sign Language (ISL),
- Auslan which is used in Australia and New Zealand,
- Chinese Sign Language (CSL),
- Japanese Sign Language (JSL), and many more.
Each of these has its unique syntax and grammar that sets it apart from other forms of sign language.
Why Is ASL Important?
ASL is important because it is a form of communication that affects and enriches the lives of millions of people. It provides a way for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to communicate with each other and with hearing individuals, both in person and online.
ASL also enables deaf people to express their culture, identity, values, community pride, and sense of belonging.
Additionally, ASL contributes to language diversity as an independent language with its own grammar rules, syntax, and vocabulary—all different from English.
By learning ASL or working to increase awareness about deafness in our society, we can make the world more accessible for all individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
