Why Are ASL and BSL Completely Different Languages?

Both the United States and the United Kingdom use English, so one might also assume that Deaf people in both countries use the same sign language. However, that is not the case.

American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) are distinct languages. This is because sign language is not simply a manual version of a spoken language like English, but an independent language that evolved separately within the Deaf community.

The divergence stems from the story of Gallaudet. 

In 1815, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet initially visited Britain seeking methods to teach Deaf children, but he was unsuccessful because the Braidwood family—leaders in the field of deaf education—viewed him with suspicion and withheld their methods.

Gallaudet then turned his attention to France, where he met Clerc and brought him back to the United States. Had he adopted the British approach instead, American Sign Language might look completely different today.

Thus, ASL originated from French Sign Language (LSF) and evolved through a blend of sign languages ​​from various regions, whereas BSL developed independently in the UK and shares the same lineage as Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and New Zealand Sign Language.

Indeed, it is important to note that sign language is not a universal language. Different countries and regions have their own distinct sign languages, each reflecting the unique history and culture of its community.