Australian Sign Language
PrintA language of Australia
7,150 (2006 census).
5 (Developing). De facto language of provincial identity in New South Wales.
Related to British Sign Language [bfi], with influences also from Irish [isg] and American sign languages [ase]. Many structural similarities between British Sign Language (BSL) [bfi], Australian Sign Language (Auslan) [asf], and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) [nzs] and a high degree of mutual intelligibility (Johnston 2003). Linguists sometimes use the name BANZSL to refer to them as a group, while still recognizing each as a separate language.
Some signed interpretation in court, for college students, at important public events. Australian Signed English, a manual system for English [eng] spelling, is distinct from Australian Sign Language, and is used by hearing people for communication with the deaf, to teach the deaf, and is used officially in New South Wales.
Earliest schools for the deaf established by British deaf immigrants in 1860. Many agencies for the deaf. Sign language instruction for parents of deaf children. Committee on national sign language.