Sign languages are used by people with hearing impairments, their families and those who educate and work with them. There are individual sign languages in many countries around the world.

Auslan, Australia Sign Language, is the official sign language used in Australia. It is close to British and New Zealand Sign languages, but quite different from the English language in both structure and vocabulary forms. There is often variation in the language relating to both place and person [age and education]. Auslan also includes Fingerspelling. Signed English was used for some time but is now considered undesirable. Sign Language has been used in Australia since at least the middle of the 19^th century.

This page provides access to Auslan courses, dictionaries, grammar, vocabulary, tutorials, other selected resources and general information.

A second section of the page provides links to other sign languages from around the world. These are provided for your information only.

If you are aware of other quality resources - courses or specific language aspects, let the webmasters know, so they can be considered for inclusion.

Auslan

Auslan - Australian Sign Language

Auslan - What is IT ?

• All About …
  Auslan history from SignPlanet.
• Auslan
  Recognition, status, history, Auslan in relation to English, variation, standardisation, written and recorded Auslan, further reading, references, links. From Wikipedia.
• Australian Sign Language - Auslan
  About.com. A general introduction with several embedded links to resources and organisations.
• History of Auslan
  Auslan Signbank article.
• Sign Language - Auslan
  Better Health Channel, Victoria. Introduction, evolution, different elements, structure, learning, where to get help, more. Try here for More Information.
• What is Auslan ?
  Background information, some further links.

Learning Auslan

• Auslan, Deaf Services Queensland
  Courses, locations, costs.
• Auslan Language Centre
  Western Australia.
• Auslan, VicDeaf
  About Auslan, courses, costs, tutoring, more.
• Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association
  Becoming an Interpreter. Select link from Interpreting in the main menu. All details provided.
• Deaf CanDo
  South Australia. Use the Sign Languagelink for details.
• Deaf Children Australia
  Auslan Programs. Multiple options. Scroll down to access these.
• Deaf Society NSW
  Course information. Signed introduction.
• Learn Auslan Sign Language
  Listing of courses and places where they are run. Victoria only. Other information.
• TasDeaf
  Auslan classes can be found here.
• Understanding Auslan
  ‘The following articles have been written by Dr Adam Schembri. Dr Schembri is one of Australia’s best known sign language linguists’.

Resources

• Auslan Basics
  YouTube video. Links to others.
• Auslan Fonts
  True Type fonts, activity sheets, cards, ideas.
• Auslan Play Books
  ‘Twenty six “Colouring in Pages” including an Auslan Sign of the subject, its written description of how to do the sign and a black and white picture that the children can play with. The written text is in dot format and can be traced around to assist children in their writing’. Prompt Education. Fee-based. They also have other books being continually added to their stock and improvements made to existing books so keep checking back. Check the site as they have a new range of books available.
• Auslan Resources
  Includes the Auslan Fonts link provided here, lesson plans and activities for Primary children, resources for VCE Auslan courses, links to other resources and Auslan information. Also check Deaf Read Auslan Resources for links to these.
• Auslan Resources [2]
  This listing is from Kangan-Batman TAFE in Victoria, but products would be available from many sources.
• Auslan Resources [Brillkids]
  Part of a forum for Early Childhood years. Lists some Auslan Resources considered worthwhile.
• Auslan Services
  ‘A leading provider of Auslan interpreters’. Information on Auslan and Auslan training.
• Australian Baby Hands
  ‘Using AUSLAN based sign language your baby can tell you what they want when they want it’. Information for parents, products, classes, more.
• Aussie Deaf Kids
  Covers a wider area than this, but some aspects, especially relating to schooling would be of value.
• Bilby Publishing
  Annotated links to sign language materials, including an Auslan Course at Home and an Auslan Dictionary, Fee-based.
• Facebook Entries
  3 entries at time of inclusion.
  You now have to be able to log in to Facebook to access this site.
• Makaton Vocabulary - Auslan Edition
  All details provided.
• RIDBC Auslan Tutor
  ‘Portable video-based Australian Sign Language [Auslan] teaching resource developed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch’. Only works with these. All details from the site.
• SignPlanet
  Kids & Carers, Teachers & Trainers, Baby Sign, Classes, about. A huge site. One sample is the Adults Desk where you can take a tour. Extensive matetrial, resources and ideas.
• The Auslan Shop
  DVDs to books, multimedia to novelty items, courses to games.
• The Auslan Tuition System
  The final product was never developed but you can still access the trial version. There are also several movies in .avi format available.

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Other Sign Languages

General Sites

• Baby Sign Language
  ‘Baby sign language is a great way to help you communicate with your pre-verbal baby. Baby sign language helps babies that are ready to communicate, but can’t talk bridge the gap to full speech’. Basics, dictionary, flash cards, blog, more.
• Braille
  US based links leading to information. Also check the Braille Literacy Resources page, with sections for adults, parents, teachers, plus more.
• Deaf Culture and Sign Languages of the Global Village
  ‘Deaf communities are extremely tightly-knit worlds. Sign language can be efficient and people who come from different regions of the world are able to communicate using signs. Information on sign languages, links to informative sites, providing a window into deaf culture’.
• Handspeak
  Use hand signs to talk to each other. More than 3 000 signs.

Other Sign Languages

American Sign Language

• A Basic Guide to ASL
  ‘This dictionary has both animated and text definitions. The text definitions also have letter or number sign images to aid in visualizing the sign’.
• ASL Fingerspelling
• Learning American Sign Language
  Find out what it is like. Annotated links to information but more importantly, lessons.
• Start American Sign Language
  ‘Start ASL provides free American Sign Language lessons, an ASL dictionary, Deaf History and Deaf Culture information’.

• British Sign Language
  ‘This site uses moving pictures to show the basic signs for British Sign Language’. Done in word groups.
• Irish Sign Language
• New Zealand Sign Language Dictionary
  Online. Select alphabetically.
• South African Sign Language, Sign Puddle

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