Languages
There are just as many variations of Sign as there are spoken languages and just like with spoken languages, many aspects will vary from region to region. From an American perspective, here are some of the most commonly found sign language variations:
- ASL – American Sign Language
- Not an adaptation of the English language, nor does it have anything to do with the English language. ASL is its own distinct language which does not employ the use of voice. It uses its own components and idioms.
- SEE – Signed Exact English
- A version of signing that is often less popular within the Deaf community, but often preferred/recommended by audiologists/doctors/speech therapists since it is an exact translation of spoken English using hand gestures. There are hand gestures for every aspect of spoken English including prefixes, suffixes, adverbs, etc. The idea is that SEE will give the deaf a better grasp on the English language.
- PSE – Pidgin Signed English
- A variation of sign using ASL signs but adapting them to English word order. It is an informal version of signing that can often be useful when helping hearing people translate to/from spoken English.
- Cued Speech
- A version of signing that uses eight unique hand shapes (not derived ASL, SEE, etc.) that signify consonant phonemes. When these gestures (cues) are placed within certain areas of the face, they represent vowel phonemes. These cues are coupled with mouthing and follow English grammar. It is used to distinguish the different sounds used when speaking. It is aimed at making speech-reading easier.
- MCE – Manually Coded English
- Is not a set version of signing but rather a more general description of any use of English grammar conveyed using hand gestures.
- Rochester Method
- Solely communicating by using words that are fingerspelled. This method is unpopular and not recommended for those attempting to learn sign.
