Aboriginal sign languages

I've always thought it would be useful if everyone 'spoke' a sign language. We could communicate when it's noisy, or when someone's far away, or when you don't want to interrupt a conversation. But in most of the world, only people with hearing difficulties and their associates learn to sign. It's quite rare for a community to use both spoken language and sign language, but many Aboriginal communities do.

Sign language is used in a number of situations, such as:

• when hunting and fishing

• for long distance communication

• during ceremonies and rituals in which speech is inappropriate

• in the proximity of sacred objects

• in time of mourning when the names of the deceased are not used

• when convenient in daily interaction, such as talking at the same time as someone else

As with other languages, new words are often made by combining existing words. Such as in Yolngu Sign Language 'air conditioner' is made up of the signs for 'box' and 'cold'. And 'washing machine' is the signs for 'box' and 'wash'. I haven't observed much sign language yet, but I have seen people pointing with their eyes or lips, which is a little different to what I'm used to!

The below photos came from The Sociolinguistics of Alternate Sign Languages of Arnhem Land, by Marie Adone & Lawurrpa Maypilama. Have a read if you'd like to learn more.