Discovering the Secrets Behind Indigenous Hand Talkers

August 29, 2018 9:16 AM

Widely used before colonization, Indigenous sign languages likely formed much of what became American Sign Language.

“I have brought you from every direction to sit in this council. Young men are not learning your sign language, and soon it will disappear from this country,” he signals using Plain Indigenous Sign Language.

posted by poffin boffin (4 comments total)

I thought ASL was based on French Sign Language? That’s the normal explanation for how different it is from British sign language.
posted by w0mbat at 10:49 AM on August 29, 2018

I had never heard of this, thank you for posting it!
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:40 PM on August 29, 2018

Now I really want to read that book "Hand Talk". Thanks for this!
posted by theatro at 12:51 PM on August 29, 2018

This is fascinating - many thanks!
posted by thatwhichfalls at 1:24 PM on August 29, 2018