Auslan is the sign language used by the Australian Deaf community.

The term 'Auslan' is a blend of "Australian sign language", and was coined by Dr Trevor Johnston in the late 1980s, though the language itself is much older.

Auslan is related to British Sign Language (BSL) and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), and the three may be considered dialects of the one language, BANZSL. They may also be related to South African Sign Language (SASL).

Recognition of Auslan

Auslan was recognised by the Australian Federal Government as a "community language other than English" in policy statements in 1987 and 1991 ^factsheet)

Further reading

• Johnston, T.A. & Wilkin, P. (1998). Signs of Australia : A new dictionary of Auslan (the sign language of the Australian deaf community). North Rocks, NSW, Australia : North Rocks Press : Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.
• Sebeok, T.A. & Umiker-Sebeok, D.J. (1978). Aboriginal sign languages of the Americas and Australia. New York : Plenum Press. (4th floor, E98.S5A23 v.1 & 2).

External Links

• AAD - Australian Association of the Deaf
• ASLIA - Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association

Bibliography

1. Lo Bianco, J. (1987). National Policy on Languages. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
2. ^  Dawkins, J (1991). Australia's Language: The Australian Language and Literacy Policy. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Serice