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Sign language is not universal. There are hundreds of different sign languages. Many different countries have their own sign languages, with linguistic conventions and gesture-meaning vocabularies that vary from other nations' sign languages.

Some examples of sign languages are:

  • American Sign Language (ASL - 500,000 to 2,000,000 signers in the United States in addition to others abroad)
  • British Sign Language (BSL - over 50,000 first-language signers)
  • French Sign Language (LSF - 80,000 to 300,000 signers)
  • International Sign Language (also known as International Sign Pidgin, Gestuno, or ISL)

Some nations even have multiple sign languages. For example, in Japan, there are three main sign languages: Japanese Sign Language, JSL, which is generally used by native speakers and involves mouthing syllables in addition to finger spelling; Pidgin Signed Japanese, which is used between generally non-native speakers with native speakers, and Manually Signed Japanese, which translates the written form of Japanese into gestures.

As one can observe from the statistics above, the number of people who sign using even a nation's own sign language is hard to determine accurately. Statistics for many areas of the world are unavailable.

Thus it is hard to definitively say for the world, or even a nation, how many people use a sign language. However, one can infer from the statistics for the individual nations above a general sense of how many sign language users there are in the world. However, these numbers should not be seen as accurate and representative of the proportion of sign language users to total population world-wide, only as a rough estimate.

According to Wycliffe Translation Organization- they stated that there are over 400 forms of sign language across the globe. And many of them are not very well known. They can be similar to ASL or oral sign language.

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6y ago
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5d ago

It is estimated that around 70 million people worldwide use sign languages as their primary means of communication. This includes users of various sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and others.

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6y ago

It's not possible to know the numbers for every country, because most countries do not collect this information. There is information from some countries though, including the following:

  • American Sign Language is the most widely spoken sign language in the world. It estimated to be spoken by between 250,000 and 500,000 native speakers in the United States.
  • British Sign Language (unrelated to ASL) has between 77,000 and 250,000 native speakers.
  • Danish Sign Language has about 5000 speakers.
  • French Sign Language has about 100,000 speakers.
  • Israeli Sign Language has about 10,000 speakers.
  • Mexican Sign Language has about 130,000 speakers.
  • Russian Sign Language has about 120,000 speakers, according to a 2010 census.
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Q: How many people speak sign languages?
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Continue Learning about Linguistics

Which language is used by the people who cannot speak and hear?

A person who cannot speak or hear may use sign language as their primary form of communication. Sign languages vary by region and may include American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States or British Sign Language (BSL) in the United Kingdom.


Where are sign languages spoken?

Sign languages are visual-spatial languages used by deaf and hard of hearing communities worldwide. They are not universal and vary by country or region. Some well-known sign languages include American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Australian Sign Language (Auslan).


How many sign languages are there?

There are over 300 different sign languages used around the world, each with its own unique grammar and vocabulary. Some well-known sign languages include American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Auslan (Australian Sign Language).


Is sign language used all over the world?

No, there are many different sign languages used around the world. Each country or region may have its own sign language that is distinct from others. Just like spoken languages, sign languages can vary in vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.


Are sign languages different in other countries?

Yes, sign languages differ between countries just like spoken languages do. Each country may have its own unique sign language, with its own grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. However, there are also some international sign languages used in specific contexts to facilitate communication among deaf individuals from different countries.

Related questions

Which language is used by the people who cannot speak and hear?

A person who cannot speak or hear may use sign language as their primary form of communication. Sign languages vary by region and may include American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States or British Sign Language (BSL) in the United Kingdom.


How many languages did Helen Keller speak?

Helen Keller was proficient in multiple languages, including American Sign Language, English, French, German, and Italian. She primarily communicated through sign language and tactile sign language with her hands.


How many sign languages are there?

There are over 300 different sign languages used around the world, each with its own unique grammar and vocabulary. Some well-known sign languages include American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Auslan (Australian Sign Language).


Who are the first people to use sign language?

No one knows. Sign languages are as old as vocal languages.


Who made up sign language?

A single person did not make up sign language. It is not an alternative to language, but rather there are many sign languages each of which is constantly changing based on the needs of the people who speak it. American Sign Language is most closely related to French Sign Language, and the two share common roots.


How many people use sign language in north America?

It is estimated that there are over one million people in North America who are Deaf and use sign language as their primary form of communication. This number includes individuals who are Deaf from birth as well as those who have acquired hearing loss later in life.


What languages did Andrew Jackson speak?

Sign Language,Swahili,Portuguese, and the Language of Love.


What are some of the disadvantage of having so many languages in one country?

Having many languages in one country can lead to communication barriers and misunderstandings among different language speakers. It can also create challenges in providing government services and education in multiple languages. Additionally, it may contribute to social divisions and conflicts based on language differences.


How many people speak New Zealand Sign Language?

According to the 2013 census, 20,200 people speak NZSL, which is related to British Sign Language, though not mutually intelligible.


How many languages did Juliette Gordon Low speak?

Juliette Gordon Low spoke two languages, English and French. Although she was deaf, Juliette was not known to have ever used sign language.


Can one kind of sign lauguage use around the world?

There is no universal sign language that is used around the world. Each country typically has its own unique sign language system, with some similarities due to shared signs across regions. Examples include American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States and British Sign Language (BSL) in the United Kingdom.


How many people speak use sign language as an official language?

More than 70 million Deaf people worldwide use sign language as an official language. Each country has its own sign language, such as American Sign Language in the United States and British Sign Language in the United Kingdom.