Accents with Sign Languages?
Do sign languages have accents? Is the term accent actually used to describe the regional differences? How much can you identify where someone is from based on the slight variations of the same signs?
I would image there are also are signs specific to certain regions, like different words used by different regions in spoken languages. Ie. diaper/nappy bunny hug/hoodie pop/soda/soft drink/coke
@AffyAvo I would love to know the answer to this.
@AffyAvo ohhhh great question! Looks around waiting for someone to answer.
Wondering if @klemen might have some insight? Come over to the forums klemen :)
@AffyAvo, yes, there are accents in sign languages and there exist also different sign languages (American sign language, British sign language, French sign language, Slovene sign language) which are very different from each other and it is difficult to understand person who speaks different sign language if you aren't familiar with. Soime persons can know where person is from out of sign language accent person is using.
@gentleSun78 Thanks!
Yes there are regional differences. In academic context signs have to be created on the fly for words that have no official sign yet. So yes, there are different 'accents' or 'dialects' . Also no one signs exactly the same.
Have a look here: https://youtu.be/Gli3akhYOSo
@kindSoul10 That really helped to explain it well. I figured the accents would be more subtle, mostly similar to the way the age accent was described with the fingers, I'm surprised to learn that it can be as obvious as up vs. down and towards vs. away.
A hearing accent is something I wouldn't have though of!