South African Sign Language
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What is it?
Why is it so important?
Why is it so important?
South African Sign Language is a visual language. It is a distinct, complete language with its own grammar and it is used by the Deaf community in South Africa. It became the 12th official language in 2023. It is not related to any of the spoken languages in South African and it is completely different to American Sign Language.
Why is it so important?
Why is it so important?
Why is it so important?
To develop and assist your child to develop their language brain. Visual and spoken language use similar brain pathways. Deaf babies and children are predisposed to visual information. Developing language by using their strength supports verbal language, should that be the families choice. Visual and spoken language should be seen as comp
To develop and assist your child to develop their language brain. Visual and spoken language use similar brain pathways. Deaf babies and children are predisposed to visual information. Developing language by using their strength supports verbal language, should that be the families choice. Visual and spoken language should be seen as complementary, not competing modes of communication. It also exposes your child to a bilingual existence - which has so many advantages in terms of brain growth.
Where should I start?
Why is it so important?
Where should I start?
SASL A teacher, friend & family resource for beginners, available by clicking on the button below, is a free downloadable pdf. document that provides a reference and starting point for learning. The 21 YouTube lessons provided by RealSASL is a fantastic adjunct.
Once you have a foundation - start practising SASL with your child whenever yo
SASL A teacher, friend & family resource for beginners, available by clicking on the button below, is a free downloadable pdf. document that provides a reference and starting point for learning. The 21 YouTube lessons provided by RealSASL is a fantastic adjunct.
Once you have a foundation - start practising SASL with your child whenever you can. It is fine to use verbal language at the same time. The NID has storybooks in SASL which will be a fun activity to perform together.
Resources are available to learn SASL
This website was created for South Africa's teachers, teaching assistants, students and interested people with a reference guide to authentic SASL. It has resources in a variety media, including 21 free at home lessons through YouTube which may be accessed by clicking on the button above.
The SASL DEAFinition App is free to download and is an additional resource for learning South African Sign Language. Whether you want to communicate better with Deaf friends, colleagues, or customers, the app provides an extensive library of signs and phrases. Available on both Android and iOS, the app offers easy searching, hundreds of new words, and many more categories to explore.
Fantastic resources to support you on the journey of discovering the wonderful world of South African Sign Language. The website provides free access to videos, storybooks, songs, and more!