Whats the difference between Auslan & Signed English?
A. Auslan is a visual-gestural language, which has developed naturally within the Australian Deaf community over many years. Its grammar is visual in that it follows a natural order that is unique to sign languages. It is a highly expressive and concise language, which is as rich and diverse as any spoken language. Signed English was developed by predominantly hearing educators who borrowed signs from Auslan and artificially created new signs for English elements which are not used in Auslan. Signed English is signed in English word order and has been used in educational settings with the hope that it would immerse the deaf child in English, enhancing their proficiency. English is now more effectively taught using Auslan & English simultaneously in the classroom, a method known as the Bilingual approach. Signed English, being slow and often impassive, has not been embraced by the Australian Deaf community and is slowly disappearing.
