Do you consider Sign Language as a Language??

Yes, I consider sigh language to be a second language. It is called sign LANGUAGE, isn't it? Language is not necessarily spoken words. Have you ever heard of body language? You do not have to use words to speak.

I consider it as a language designed especially for the deaf and dumb community. This is the only language that is universally used by people who are in this category.

Thought I don't know sign language, I wish I did and I consider it a language. I think it would be great if it were our second language. So many times I wish we all knew it so we could talk to each other from a distance. I hate it when people yell at each other from across a room. I sure could use it where I work.

I do consider it a second language, but I have deaf and hard of hearing family members. I don't know that everyone would think it would be though.

I consider Sign Language as a language. Why? Because it is another form that a group of people use to communicate with other people. It's as similar as learning to speak German when you want to communicate with Germans.

i took two years of ASL in high school. learning the signs was easy but learning the sentence structure wasn't. i consider it a language because there are people out there who use it to communicate. if they didn't they wouldn't be able to speak.

Sign language is not only a language, but a beautiful art. I am always amazed when I watch someone who can sign well. It is a far more complex language than many people realize. I wish I had the time to learn to do sign language. I love the fact that so many different types of people can benefit from this language, not just those who cannot hear (a common misconception). Hats off to you for learning this graceful form of communication. I am sure you are a blessing to many.

Yes, why not?..They have a name for everything else, and besides, it's a form of communication, only without sound. I guess it can be a language as long as it can be understood. If it's not a language, then what else could it be. There's a language for every tongue out there, I don't think it would be fair to silent tongues to not have a language also. I know this may sound silly, but I think I have a point.

Well I am not really good with Sign Language, but yes I consider Sign Language as a language, though not my second language. Because I have this friend who cant speak, he suffered from an illness, and he is deaf too. We really get along very well and we use sign language to communicate. I dont believe that even though something is not spoken, it is no longer a language.

I do because it is a way that people communicate with each other. I know a little sign language but I am not fluent. I wonder if that is considered being bilingual.

Language is an art of communication. As long as people communicate and understood each other it is considered as language. Language need not to be spoken, even your gestures when you flirt tells it so. Its one way of telling the person directly through gestures and signs which you cannot utter by words. Same with Sign language, it is a unique art of communication, and it requires hard work to memories all those signs. As long as we communicate, we are using language. Be it verbally or through our actions. I still believe that actions speaks louder than words.

Definitely. I think a language is a structured means of communication. Since a lot of people use Sign Language as a means of communication and because there is structure to it, I consider it a language. I don't think a language has to be spoken.

I would say that I do believe that it is because language is ones form of communication and to me it is speaking with actions instead of sound therefore sign language to me is an actual language.

Sign language is a language indeed but i will never be considered as a second language nor first language. Come to think of it, wher we are a baby we communicate to our parents through sign language, so does it means that sign language is everybody's language? Based on wikipedia, sign language uses virtually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning.

Excellent discussion :) I have never thought of this myself but yes I guess I would consider it another language because one has to learn this the same way they would any other language . I have always been interested in sign language and even tried to teach it to my younger children because it is said that baby's can learn to sign before they ever learn to speak . I only know how to sign a few words but we keep getting books from the library that teach younger children to sign simple words and it is fun to do it with them and at the same time teaching them another way to communicate with the world ;

I would consider sign language as a second language and I think that Justin on Cbeenies does a fantastic job with showing young children how to sign as it is making them aware and also more understanding of people who are deaf. I learnt a small amount many years ago as my mums friends daughter was deaf and it felt good to be able to communicate in her language. Whenever I travel abroad I like to be able to communicate in the local language, although not fluent will have covered the basic hello, goodbye, thank you etc. Ellie :D

Good day... Yes. sign language is a language and I believe that it is always a language.

i never really thought about it and your right it is.. so there should be an option on surveys and applications to choose it then..

it is and should be considered as a "language" since it is used by a group of people just like,english and any other dialects. even not diasabled people study/ use that too. so i consider it as a language to be embraced. :)

i consider it to be a language as long as it is a mean of communication to another person. learning sign language has the same difficulty as learning japanese or french to me. therefore i would consider it as a language.