sign language: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical, educational
Quick answer
What does “sign language” mean?
A complete, natural language that uses manual gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning, primarily used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A complete, natural language that uses manual gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning, primarily used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
Any system of communication using visual gestures, including informal gestural systems or simplified codes, though the term properly refers to full-fledged linguistic systems like BSL or ASL.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'sign language' as the standard term. In the UK, 'British Sign Language (BSL)' is the specific term. In the US, 'American Sign Language (ASL)' is the specific term. No significant lexical difference for the generic term.
Connotations
Neutral and standard in both varieties. The term carries strong associations with Deaf culture and identity.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects due to legal recognition and educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sign language” in a Sentence
[Subject] uses sign language[Subject] is learning sign language[Subject] interpreted via sign languagecommunication in sign languageVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sign language” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They sign-language fluently to each other across the room. (less common but possible)
- The presenter was sign-languaging the key points for accessibility.
American English
- He sign-languages the announcements at the theatre. (hyphenated verb use is rare)
- We need to sign-language the instructions for the Deaf participant.
adjective
British English
- The sign-language community celebrated the new legislation.
- She is a sign-language tutor.
American English
- They attended a sign-language workshop.
- The document requires sign-language interpretation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The company provides sign language interpreters for all-staff meetings."
Academic
"Research into the neurolinguistics of sign language has revealed its parity with spoken languages."
Everyday
"I'm taking a course to learn British Sign Language."
Technical
"Sign languages exhibit complex phonological structures organized through manual parameters."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sign language”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sign language”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sign language”
- Using 'sign language' as an uncountable noun when referring to a specific one (e.g., 'She uses a sign language' is odd; prefer 'She uses sign language' or 'She uses BSL').
- Treating it as a simple code or pantomime rather than a full language.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, there are many different sign languages (e.g., ASL, BSL, LSF), each with its own vocabulary and grammar, and they are not mutually intelligible.
While sign languages are primarily visual-spatial, there are notation systems like SignWriting or Stokoe notation developed for linguistic analysis, but no single, universally adopted written form for daily use.
Both are used. The generic, uncountable 'sign language' is common (e.g., 'She uses sign language'). The countable form 'a sign language' is used when referring to a specific, distinct system (e.g., 'BSL is a sign language used in the UK').
Sign Language (e.g., ASL) is a natural language with its own grammar. Signed English (or other manually coded systems) is a visual representation of spoken English, using signs in English word order, often with added grammatical markers.
A complete, natural language that uses manual gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning, primarily used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
Sign language is usually formal, technical, educational in register.
Sign language: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪn ˌlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪn ˌlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SIGN as using your hands to SIGNal meaning, combined with LANGUAGE = SIGN LANGUAGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A VISUAL-SPATIAL CHANNEL.
Practice
Quiz
Which statement about 'sign language' is accurate?