People speak many different languages. But did you know they also use different sign languages? 

In the United States and Great Britain, people mostly speak English. But they use very different sign languages. Most American signers know American Sign Language (ASL). But in the United Kingdom, signers use British Sign Language (BSL). BSL is also popular in Australia and New Zealand. 

BSL existed long before ASL. The first known mention of BSL pops up in a book about monks. That book was published in 1450. It describes some BSL signs still used today. And BSL itself may be even older than that! 

On the other hand (no pun intended), ASL was invented in the 1800s. It most likely started at the American School for the Deaf. The school was founded by a man named Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. He learned about French sign language (LSF) in Paris. He used that knowledge to help create ASL. 

Some Native Americans have their own sign language. It’s called “hand talk” or Plains Indian Sign Language. Only a handful of people still use it. Some experts think hand talk also influenced ASL. 

Just how different are BSL and ASL? Quite a bit! ASL uses one hand to shape letters. BSL requires two hands. In ASL, facial expressions can add meaning to words. That happens less often in BSL. ASL users often spell out entire words with their fingers. BSL calls for much less spelling. ASL and BSL even use different grammar rules and lexicons. 

Sign languages help us communicate with people who can’t hear or speak. Knowing the right sign language is just as important as knowing the right spoken language. We can love our neighbors by learning to communicate with them.