Australian Sign Language (Auslan)

Australian Sign Language (known as Auslan) is the natural language of the Australian deaf community, part of the same language family as British Sign Language (BSL) and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Its vocabulary, however, has also been influenced by Irish Sign Language (ISL) and American Sign Language (ASL). Auslan has, in turn, influenced other sign languages of the Asia-Pacific region, with related varieties emerging in nearby Papua New Guinea and Fiji, for example. This entry outlines the history of sign language use in Australia, compares it with other signed language, and describes its grammatical structure and use. The entry ends with a brief look at research on Auslan.

Like other sign languages, Auslan has a vocabulary and grammar distinct from those of the majority spoken ...