I have a question about mutual intelligibility of Sign Language around the world.
I'm considering the logistics of making a photo book that would teach sign language, in single words, to babies (examples: more, please, food, milk, sleep, etc). I'd like it to be translatable for multiple languages around the world. What are the main sign languages needed, and the countries where they'd be used?
For instance, I know for sure that American Sign Language would work in both the USA and Canada. And I've seen this map showing Sign Language families... but I wouldn't expect American and Italian sign language to be the same, even if they both derived from a French root. And it's much harder to figure out something like, could photos of words in British Sign Language work in Australia and South Africa, where the languages are similar?
(If this project moves ahead, it would involve actual paid Deaf consultants and models to ensure it's done right - for now, I'm just spitballing to get a sense of the logistics and if it's even possible, before involving other people).
Thanks! |