What is the major difference between ASL and baby sign language?

Question

What is the major difference between ASL and baby sign language?

Answer 1

American Sign Language is full language.  Baby signing is simpler words and usually relevant to the child.  It is a good foundation for teaching children ASL as they get older, since they are familiar with the technique and the purpose.

Answer 2

Yes, ASL is a complete language with a grammar used for communication within the Deaf community. Baby sign, on the other hand, is just a few selected signs used to help pre-verbal infants communicate and decreases frustration by allowing the child to make their needs known to their parent.

Some people fear that if you use baby sign that the child will not learn to speak because they will use the sign as a crutch, but this is not the case. Spoken language is much more efficient and much more common, so the baby will easily pick it up (especially if you use if while signing) and stop using the signs.

Answer 3

ASL is a complete language. Baby signs are baby talk.