sign language
32
2.8
- noun
- /saɪn ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
:
lengua de signos
- When attending the workshop, I realized how important sign language is for effective communication with the deaf community.
- sign language interpreter
- use sign language
- communicate in sign language
Learn sign language and regarding cochlear implants, make sure sign language is not ignored or neglected.
- Learn sign language and regarding cochlear implants, make sure sign language is not ignored or neglected.
- This is the symbol for R in sign language.
- But we've played around with like finger spelling, like sign language finger spelling, and that seems really promising.
- It wasn't like modern American Sign Language, where a gesture means the same thing as a word.
- Well, I was learning fucking sign language then, not Argentinian.
- So no, I don't know sign language except for hi, my name.
- These people in this book teach each other sign language, other.
- The boys misrepresent sign language, leading to their demise on Twitter.
- Everyone instantly knew this was bad, even the sign language interpreter take a look at her face.
Examples
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So the reason I began learning sign language because my neighbors were profoundly deaf.
-
Assured that she wasn't, he proceeded to use sign language and talk to us.
Academic text (2008) -
So because those languages are so different, you would kind of expect the sign language to be different.
-
Because of her, my parents made me learn sign language.
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By the time the children leave the baby room, they know some sign language.
Academic text (2004) -
How will she communicate with him if she does not know sign language?
Academic text (1991) -
All the students used manual sign language as their primary form of communication.
Academic text (1996) -
Working with these clients will mean using a sign language interpreter.
Academic text (1996) -
In one First Nations childcare center, one worker teaches the children sign language.
Academic text (2004) -
My friend is fluent in sign language, which helps her communicate with her deaf parents.
Synonyms
22
3.7
Using hand movements and gestures to communicate, often as a language for deaf people
5
4.4
A language that uses hand signs for deaf people in the United States and Canada
3
3.9
A language of hand signs and body movements used by deaf people in the United States and parts of Canada
How Widespread
32
2.8
22
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a language that uses hand signs and gestures' is directly and compositionally derived from 'sign' (gesture/visible symbol) + 'language' (a communication system), so a learner who knows both words can infer the phrase. This compound is cross-linguistically common (e.g., 'lengua de señas', 'langue des signes') and follows a transparent noun + noun naming pattern, making it immediately comprehensible at B1.
Etymology
Sign language comes from the idea of a language made of visible signs — hand shapes, body movements and facial expressions that people use to 'speak' without sound. That's why the term means the full system people who are deaf or hard of hearing use to communicate.