Are sign systems designed to represent English natural languages developed by the Deaf community?

Are sign systems designed to represent English natural languages developed by the Deaf community?

• A. No, sign systems designed to represent English were developed by educators and are not natural languages.
• B. Yes, they are natural languages developed by the Deaf community.
• C. They are the same as American Sign Language.
• D. They are only used in educational settings.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the distinction between a natural language that develops within a community and a sign system created to represent another spoken language. Sign systems designed to mirror English were developed by educators to support teaching and literacy, encoding English word order and grammar in a visual form. They are not natural languages that arise and evolve within Deaf communities. In contrast, a natural sign language, such as American Sign Language, develops organically within a Deaf community and has its own distinct grammar and ways of signaling meaning, separate from English. So the statement that these sign systems were created by educators and are not natural languages best captures the reality. While some of these systems are used in education, they are not equivalent to ASL, and they are not limited to educational settings.

The key idea is the distinction between a natural language that develops within a community and a sign system created to represent another spoken language. Sign systems designed to mirror English were developed by educators to support teaching and literacy, encoding English word order and grammar in a visual form. They are not natural languages that arise and evolve within Deaf communities. In contrast, a natural sign language, such as American Sign Language, develops organically within a Deaf community and has its own distinct grammar and ways of signaling meaning, separate from English. So the statement that these sign systems were created by educators and are not natural languages best captures the reality. While some of these systems are used in education, they are not equivalent to ASL, and they are not limited to educational settings.