How to start learning sign language: which one to pick and where to learn it
TUREFF• •0
People often decide to learn sign language because they have met a Deaf colleague, have a Deaf child or relative, or simply find the language beautiful. The first surprise for most beginners is that there is no single "sign language". Choosing the right one, and learning it from the right people, makes everything after that easier.
Sign languages are real, separate languages
Sign languages are natural languages with their own vocabulary and grammar. They grew up in Deaf communities, not as a code for the spoken language around them. That means a sign language is not English (or Korean, or French) on the hands.
It also means sign languages differ from country to country, and not along the lines you might expect:
- British Sign Language (BSL), Auslan (Australia) and New Zealand Sign Language are closely related. Linguists group them as one family, sometimes called BANZSL, because they share grammar, a manual alphabet and a large share of their vocabulary.
- American Sign Language (ASL) is not in that family, even though the US and the UK share a spoken language. A BSL user and an ASL user will not simply understand each other. ASL's history is tied instead to French Sign Language, brought to the US by the Deaf teacher Laurent Clerc, who helped found the first permanent school for Deaf children in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817, where it mixed with signing already used by Deaf Americans.
- Fingerspelling shows the split clearly: ASL spells letters with one hand, while BSL, Auslan and NZSL use a two-handed alphabet.
Korea, Japan, France and most other countries have their own sign languages too, each with its own community.
Which one should you learn?
Pick the language of the people you want to talk to. That usually means the sign language of the country you live in, because that is where you will find classes, Deaf events and people to practise with. If you have a specific reason, such as a Deaf family member who uses ASL while you live elsewhere, follow the person, not the map.
Avoid choosing purely on which language has the most online videos. A language you can use face to face every week will take you further than one you only watch.
Learn from Deaf teachers where you can
Deaf people are the native users of sign languages, and Deaf teachers bring things a hearing teacher learning second-hand may not: natural facial grammar, current vocabulary and an understanding of Deaf culture. Many Deaf organisations, community centres and colleges run courses taught by Deaf tutors. Look for:
- classes run or endorsed by a national Deaf association or Deaf-led organisation
- a structured course with levels, so you can see your progress
- chances to sign with Deaf people outside the classroom, such as Deaf clubs, signing cafés or community events
Getting the most from your first months
- Learn the manual alphabet early, but do not lean on it. Fingerspelling is for names and some words, not whole sentences.
- Watch your face. Eyebrows, mouth shapes and head movement carry grammar, not just emotion.
- Practise with video. Record yourself and compare it with your teacher's signing.
- Use apps and online dictionaries as a supplement, not a replacement for live practice.
- Be patient with receptive skills. Understanding other people's signing is usually harder than producing your own, and it only improves with real conversations.
A note on attitude
Learning a sign language means joining, as a guest, a community with its own history and culture. Going to Deaf events to practise is welcome in most places; treating Deaf people as free tutors is not. Turn up, be friendly, accept correction gracefully and remember that people are there to socialise first.
Which sign language are you learning, and where did you find your best classes? Share your questions and experiences in the comments below.