Is Sign Language Universal?

Question

If I learned sign language here in the UK.

Would I be able to communicate with deaf people throughout the world.

I do not mean,would I be able to have deep conversations,just to be able to communicate basics

Answer 1

No, it's not. Even English-speaking countries can't understand each other, if they're using their country's version of sign language.

For example, the alphabet:

British Sign Language: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en...

American Sign Language: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en...

Answer 2

the anwer is (unfortunatly) NO!!

Each country, each language has its own sign...

Time ago, I went to the University (foreign languages) where a day I met some friends of mine who study the sign language and I asked them the same thing and they said what I have told you....

kisses

Answer 3

No, it is not. I am not sure to how much of a degree it is separated throughout the world but I know for a fact that is it different. I mean in the US we learn ASL (American Sign Language) and I have a friend from Mexico who knows Mexican Sign Language. Here is an article about it:

http://ask.yahoo.com/20040323.html

Answer 4

No, you'd learn BSL (British sign language) while as if I took a class here in the United States I'd learn ASL (American sign language). Actually, BSL and ASL are completely different.

ASL has more similarities with OFSL (Old French Sign Language) than it does with BSL, even though both the UK and US speak English.

Answer 5

Absolutely not.

Examples:

Swedish: http://hem.passagen.se/miomedmia/Bilder/...

American: http://jellyfishenglish.files.wordpress....

British: http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=62626&re...

Answer 6

dude that really sucks that its not the same......i'm so blessed not to need sign language. no offense to anyone