Why don’t British hearing impaired people get taught ASL?

[ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself]

I know ASL is a completely different language, but it seems more prevalent across the world. So why don’t we (the UK) abandon the teaching of BSL in favour of ASL, then communication with other countries too would be possible? I just read that ASL is understood in the US, Canada, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, West Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.

Why don't the French just abandon French and speak English?? I mean, that way they'd be able to understand far more people 🙄

What a daft question

My understanding is Auslang is similar to BSL. A friend who speaks a few languages including Auslang was able to use Auslang in Nepal.

Why doesn't everyone just speak English, then we'd all understand each other?

As someone else has said, Auslang and NZSL are both derived from the same source as BSL, so you can easily use BSL to communicate in those countries. South Africa is the same, and Ireland's ISL is similar enough to get by.

Because BSL is an language indigenous to the UK. It is virtually the same as Auslan and NZ Sign Language. Ugandan Sign Language is also very similar.

ASL isn't more understood or known by more people. All countries have their own Sign language(s), eg Canada has three.

Then there is the highly useful INTERNATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE that is used at international conferences or where two people have different sign languages.

How to tell me you know nothing about Sign Languages without saying you know nothing.

Oh and the term you are looking for is 'Deaf'. Not hearing Impaired. There is an entire culture intertwined with BSL and historic reasons for using certain signs.

Probably more helpful for hearing impaired people to be able to communicate with people in their own country first, seeing as that is what is currently in common usage in the UK.

Do people learn more than one sign language then? I have genuinely not heard of this.

@sashh How to tell me you know nothing about Sign Languages without saying you know nothing.

Well……. I don’t know anything about it……..that’s why I’m asking, isn’t that how people learn stuff?

I didn’t know that, thanks!

BSL is an actual language used by the deaf community in the UK. So children acquire it by immersion from native BSL users. They then become part of the BSL community. It's not just something taught in schools.

Surely the best way to learn is to leave aside any assumptions?

Also, might be best to take a moment to try and avoid offending the people you're hoping to learn from?

OP they're more than just languages as a means of communication, like all languages, there are entire cultures surrounding them. And most of them have a lot of crossover where you could make yourself understood (I can certainly understand American sign language and British sign language from only learning British) so I don't think there's a major issue. As far as I understand it, there was an attempt to unify everything with Makaton, but it just added another language to the mix instead of replacing everything else, presumably due to culture.

That is fascinating. Apparently (thanks google, before anyone jumps down my throat) Auslan is used only in Australia, so someone in Nepal had to learn it? Or is it similar enough they managed?

Please say how I’ve been offensive, I’m keen to not be.

And what assumptions?

Fair enough if you're just interested in learning more. Deaf with a capital D is generally referring to Deaf culture and identity (which is it's own distinct thing). I don't consider myself Deaf, but hearing impaired - I have some hearing and don't really consider myself to be part of the Deaf community.

Assumptions: that people only learn one form of sign language. That ASL is 'more prevalent' implying more widely understood. That 'abandoning' a whole communication system would be possible or desirable.

The dismissive attitude to BSL is pretty offensive , as others have pointed out it's linked to a whole culture.

you've essentially said that people should abandon their language to learn another, with the implied presumption that it’s not a ‘real’ language like French or German.

have you ever posted the same question about the spoken language? If not, why do you view sign language as somehow different?

I know you’ve not intended to be offensive and are trying to learn so please take what I’m saying as trying to provide information and not a dig.

Firstly we are Deaf/deaf people (or hard of hearing), NOT hearing impaired. Deaf culture is important and to many Deaf people ‘hearing impaired’ implies there’s something wrong or lesser about us that many of us just don’t feel.

Secondly the way the question was phrased completely missed the importance that BSL holds to deaf people in the UK. It really is like asking why someone from (non English speaking country) doesn’t just speak English instead because it’s more widely used. If I was French/German/Japanese/whatever English would not be my priority, my own language with all its cultural attachments would be and I’d be angry that English was thought of as superior. I didn’t grow up in the UK so have learned BSL as an additional language and it’s great, I can make myself understood to other Deaf folk from all over the place even when the sign languages are quite different.

I'm not sure.

My understanding is the finger spelling in Auslang is the same as BSL (and the other family of languages in BSL) which means my finger spelling could help in a number of places where BSL is the origin.

I love that English as a language has many different versions and then the huge number of other languages. Languages help ground is in place and time they become very specific. Why would we choose the general generic version of the highly specialised languages? In signed spoken or written language?

I've no problem calling myself hearing impaired. My hearing IS impaired! And my life would be much better if it wasn't.

Manaton is not a language. It borrows signs from BSL but uses English word order.

OP

Imagine going to a Welsh speaking part of Wales and telling people they should speak English.

This is exactly what it reminded me of - as a Welsh person I see this attitude a lot and it felt exactly the same.

I am deaf, I'm not offended by your question. I am reliant on lip reading and do not know any sign language. I guess your question would be like asking my why don't I just learn to sign. I think it cones down to what works for the individual, what community they are a part of, what they have grown up with and personal preference. It wasn't picked up that I was deaf until I was 17. By that point I had learnt to adapt in the hearing world and no one even knew I was lip reading. People just though I was rude or not paying attention most of the time I can't imagine not lip reading now so I guess it must be the same for someone who has grown up with bsl.

Yes! Of course they do, just like people learn more than one spoken language. They also have their own familial signs…