Auslan or BANZSL (British, Australian, New Zealand Sign Language) is a sign language which originates from a deaf sign language used in Britain during the 19th Century. Contrary to a common belief, not all sign languages are the same. For example, ASL (American Sign Language) is very different to BSL (British Sign Language). Also, signed languages are not just word for word spoken language signed but they have their own syntax, grammar and word origins. Also, some countries actually have sign language as one of their official languages, for example: New Zealand.
I'm going to give you ten reasons to learn Auslan (the sign language in Australia).
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| Creative Common by Deaf Action |
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| Creative Common by Wycliffe South Africa |
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In Auslan, the letter finger signs are actually quite logical and look cool. The vowels are represented by each finger on your non-dominant hand and with some finger signs you shape the letter on your hand.
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| Creative Common by HaloHoney |
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| "S O R R Y" in Auslan Creative Common by butupa |
Auslan is the only non-indigenous language that is "genuinely Australian". Learning Auslan may increase national pride and you would learn another language that isn't very foreign.
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| Image by Wikimedia Commons |
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| Sign on a road in Northern Territory Written in English, German, Italian, Japanese and an aboriginal language Creative Common by Justin Cozart |
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| From right to left: the NT flag, the aboriginal flag and the Australian flag Creative Common by Lirrwi Tourism |
If you learn Auslan, you would be generally understood by deaf Brits, New Zealanders, South Africans, North Irishmen and possibly Swedes as their sign languages originate from the same language.
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| Discussing about political status of NZSL Creative Common by Br3nda |
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| Creative Common by Makayla Lewis |
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| South African sign language class Image by Wycliffe South Africa |
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| Creative Common by Rex Libris |
You can have a loud, controversial debate without making a sound.
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| You can shout like this... Creative Common by Alan Turkus |
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| ... or this, without making any noise! Creative common by Jimmy Jack Kane |
During a recent cruise last February, there was a deaf community who were onboard. Most of the deaf people I spoke to (or attempted to use my limited Auslan on) were very animated and very good at expressing themselves (some were better than I am). They appreciated the fact that I learnt to finger sign in Auslan, which let them teach me some word-signs.
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| Creative Common by Elyse Patten |
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| Creative Common by Luis Justino |
If you and a friend both learn Auslan, you can talk to each other discreetly and people* around you won't know what you're saying. *Unless there was a deaf person right next to you.
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| Creative Common by Commanding Hands |
Whether you get a sore throat, go out of breath or go without talking for forty-hour famine, you would have a 'communication back up plan'.
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| Hearing aids, an Australian invention Creative Common by Birmingham Museum and Art Galley |
Signing in Auslan is very expressive and fun. Because of that Auslan is part of my top 5 most fun languages to pronounce (the others being Khoekhoe or Nama, Swedish, German and Mandarin).
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| Image by Wycliffe South Africa |
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| Sign language class in Spain Creative Common by Cat |
If you have a very long conversation in Auslan, it can be seen as exercise because its body movement.
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| Creative Common by Gillie |
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| Creative Common by Yang and Yun |
Most Australians (usually those who are only Irish or British in heritage) are monolingual, with English as their only language. Auslan is mainly sign by deaf people but some hearing people learn it. If everyone in Australia learnt Auslan, we would become a bilingual nation and there would be no threat of Auslan being restricted to the deaf.
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This image and the following are creative commons by Takver
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Wow, interesting. Reason number 6 (secret code) is fun. Anyway, I used to use sign language when I'm in national exams _cheating :P (1,2,..,A,B,C.,yes,no). created by my friends and I. So, no one knows the meaning but us.
ReplyDeleteSo, it's more secret than Auslan. But Auslan is great.
I am Deaf person and I think your blog is awesome! I agree with all of your ten reasons and I learnt something new (similar languages)
ReplyDeleteHi, I find this very interesting! I'm from Australia and doing Auslan. Your blog is truly amazing! :D
ReplyDelete