Sign languages are languages that use gestures, hand movements, and facial expressions instead of spoken words. They are true languages, more organized and complex than body language or baby signs, complete with their own grammatical structures.
Because sign languages do not use sounds like oral languages, aspects like emotion and emphasis are added with the use of facial expressions, the orientation of the hands, and changing the movement of the sign. The space around the signer can also be used to refer to things or people as well as describe the qualities of what they are referring to.
Sign languages are a primary mode of communication for people who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. People who struggle with oral communication for other reasons sometimes also choose to sign. There are millions of people around the world who use sign language as their primary means to communicate. While the exact number of sign languages is unknown, it has been estimated that there are 150-200 different sign languages in use.
Each country has their own sign language which is distinct from the oral language spoken in that country. For example, American Sign Language (ASL) cannot be directly translated into English. ASL has its own grammar and syntax that conveys meaning in a different way than oral English does. Like all languages, sign languages have variation within them, like accents and dialects. For instance, this means that two people who speak ASL may use different signs that represent the same word. One variation of ASL is Black ASL.
A similarity between sign languages and other languages is the culture that develops between signers. Deaf communities have rich cultures that are often distinct from those of hearing people around them. For this reason, it is important that sign languages are protected and recognized as language.
MACAW Lab 
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