7 GREATEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SIGN LANGUAGE
1.Sign Language is universal i.e. sign languages are the same around the world :-
It is a very generalised perception among people that sign language all over the world is same. But, it is not true, sign language changes from one country to another also from one region to another within same country for example : in India where spoken language changes every 100kms so the sign language.
This means that the sign language used in India is different from the sign language used in America or Japan.
2. Not Iconic in Nature :-
Sign language is iconic in nature means that there is a relationship between sign and its meaning.
Generally single sign is used to signify a word such as : thumps up means good. But sometimes two or more signs are used to signify a single word.
3. Sign Language does not have a Grammar :-
Sign language does have a grammar and follow certain grammatical rules which is different from spoken language.
4. Sign Language is concrete and cannot express complex ideas :-
Sign Language is not concrete and complex ideas can be presented and expressed easily. As it is continuously evolving we can explain past, present and future in sign language. It has its own grammar, creativity, systemic, semantic and pragmatic rules.
5. Sign Language is inferior to spoken language :-
It is not true. Because sign language is continuously evolving like any other language ( for example: new signs are evolving every now and then in sign language like new words evolves in any spoken language ) having its own grammar and follow certain language rules also we can explain anything and everything in sign language. So, it can be said that sign language is at par with the spoken language.
6. Sign Language is just a finger spelling :-
This is not true, but finger spelling constitutes a very important part of sign language such as to spell name, place or word but for explaining bigger sentences and paragraphs proper sign language with well devised signs are used. So, we can say that sign language is much wider term which doesn’t depend on finger spelling.
7. Sign Language depends on spoken language like “Sign English” :-
It is also a misconception, Sign language does not depend on spoken language. As it has its own grammar and linguistic rules.
Sign English means to sign as per the English sentence word by word.
Sign language does not follow any spoken or written sentence word by word. It follow’s its own rules for communication.