Is Sign Language a Language?

[Geoffrey Hunt]

I am new to this list, but I am writing as a linguist interested in signed
languages.  While it is true that British Sign Language is not based on sounds,
and while it is true that it is unrelated to (spoken) English, it nevertheless
has many of the characteristics of a language.

Its gestures can be emically analysed in the same way that phones can be
phonemically analalysed.  It has units that are similar to words in that they
represent a semantic concept.  Its syntax can be analyzed in a similar way to
the syntax of spoken language.  Its discourse structure can be analysed in a
similar way to the discourse of a spoken language.  Different signed languages
can be compared for mutual intelligibility as can spoken languages.  Signed
languages relate to particular cultures, just as spoken languages do.

But above everything else, signed languages are used to communicate complex
meaning, just as spoken languages do.  Therefore I have no hesitation in using
the term language in its fullest sense about signed languages.

Geoffrey Hunt

-----Original Message-----
From: For the discussion of linguistics and signed languages.
[mailto:SLLING-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA]On Behalf Of Philocophus
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2003 10:20 AM
To: SLLING-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA
Subject: Is Sign Language a Language?


This is my first posting here and please accept my apologies for the extremely
long length of this e-mail, as I am unaware whether there are protocols that
decree mails to be of certain limit.

However, here I go. Briefly, may I introduce myself. I am not a linguist, but a
Deaf historian and a publisher of 30 books on Deaf history in Britain, including
"A Pictorial history of the Evolution of the British Manual Alphabet" and a
reprint of the 1698 book, "Digiti Lingua". At present I am currently working on
a project funded by the British Government to create a higher exam course in
Deaf History and one of the most important elements in Deaf History, is of
course language. In my quest to ensure that I obtain professional confirmation
that sign language is indeed and unarguably a language, I encountered one lady,
copies of whose correspondences with me I attach here.

I am seeking advice/opinions from your group, perhaps you are able to confirm
what she says is correct, win which case it means sign language is NOT a
language, or you can confirm that she is wrong. I would very much like to listen
to you before proceeding with my section on language during my present project.

Not being a linguist, but relying on commonsense as a Deaf person myself and as
a Deaf historian, I say that she is totally wrong in her views and approach and
she is twisting everything to suit her means, but I find it difficult to argue
her points in the way linguists are qualified to.

Thank you for your patience and kind attention,

Raymond Lee

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