Did you know that Signed Languages have accents?

Yep, Just like how spoken English varies from region to region, it’s the same for ASL! Generally speaking, all types of sign languages in this world have accents! One of the common confusions or complaints ASL instructors receive from newbie signers is the fact they had learned something entirely different from another teacher. While it would be easy to assume that one of these teachers was wrong, their styles/accents are likely just different. Guess what? That means you learned two, three, or perhaps six variables for a single word! It would be understandable if this concept feels stressful or overwhelming, so let’s reframe it this way: if you learn the variables, you’ll be able to converse with more people in their own accents. All the more reason why everyone should take up more courses taught by different ASL teachers!

Many factors go into fabricating a signer’s unique accent: region, ethnicity, preference, childhood vs. adulthood communication method, and more! If you’ve already taken an introductory ASL class in the past, Visually Speaking encourages you to take another course with a different instructor! Each of them has various teaching styles, which all certainly overlap. That’s the beauty of diversity in sign language.

In a nutshell, it is always beneficial to be mindful of the variables in accents, be vulnerable to asking for clarification or repetition and be willing to learn new styles constantly. That way, your conversations with random native signers from all over the country can keep flowing with less friction. Sign up for one (or two) of Visually Speaking courses or private lessons and enhance your confidence in using ASL!