Sign Language in Australia: A Guide to Auslan & More

Auslan is the primary sign language in Australia used by the country’s Deaf Community. The language is mostly visual gestural and relies on hand shapes, facial expressions, body movements, and spatial positioning for communication.

The language has its own syntax, grammar, and idioms, and is not a signed version of English. Here, we will learn about the language, its system, and understand why certified interpreters are necessary for this language.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways: All about Auslan

Auslan, the official sign language in Australia, has its own grammar, vocabulary, and regional dialects
Certified interpreters are necessary for legal, medical, government, workplace, and education settings
Booking early and providing the appointment details can help get qualified interpreters
The sign language uses a two-handed fingerspelling system for names, places, and words without dedicated signs
Sign languages are different around the world, with over 300 unique languages and several language families
Learning sign languages can help promote better communication, accessibility, and inclusion for the Deaf Community

What Is the Australian Sign Language (Auslan)?

It is the sign language of the Deaf Community in Australia. Auslan belongs to the BANZSL family and is historically related to British Sign Language. However, it is a distinct language in its own right and not a signed form of English. With its own grammar, vocabulary, and two regional dialects, Northern and Southern, Auslan stands apart.

As per the 2021 Census, 16,242 people have reported using Auslan at home, which has grown from 5,306 in 2001. In fact, the language was formally recognised as a community language in Australian Government policy statements in 1987 and 1991, and NAATI has reported that Auslan interpreting is the third-highest language request they get, behind Arabic and Mandarin.

Why Certified Interpretation Matters for the Sign Language in Australia?

There are numerous reasons certification matters for Auslan. Certified interpreters are necessary for any legal, formal, medical, or official purposes where accurate communication is crucial. The reason is to protect human rights, ensure health and safety, and comply with Australian anti-discrimination laws.

The following are the specific scenarios where you will need a NAATI interpreter:

A. Legal and Court Settings

The ASLIA Legal policies recommend the use of a certified interpreter as a minimum standard for ensuring a fair trial and lawful documentation. The scenarios include:

Court hearings, trials, and jury duty
Police interviews, statements, and witness testimonials
Consultations with solicitors or obtaining formal legal advice

B. Medical Environments and Healthcare

Certified interpreters help ensure accurate informed consent and prevent dangerous medical errors.

Difficult medical procedures, surgeries, and hospital admissions
Psychological assessments and mental health consultations
Routine GP consultations, specialist appointments, and maternal health care

C. Government and Public Services

The government agencies of Australia often need certified interpreters to ensure equal access to public services and comply with the Disability Discrimination Act:

Centrelink, Medicare, and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) planning meetings
Immigration, passport applications, and visa interviews
Department of Transport Services, such as vehicle registrations or licensing disputes

D. Workplace and Professional Places

The employers in the country are expected to provide reasonable adjustments for deaf employees to prevent workplace exclusion or hazards:

Job interviews, performance reviews, and disciplinary meetings
Staff training, professional development, and high-level business meetings
Workplace health and safety (WHS) briefings

E. Education

Interpreters ensure equal access to information and learning environments:

University lectures, TAFE courses, and school classes
Parent-teacher interviews and school board meetings
Public emergency broadcasts (for example, a natural disaster press conference)

It is recommended that you find companies offering interpretation and translation services in Australia to hire a certified interpreter.

Hiring a Certified Auslan Interpreter: What to Expect?

Certified interpreters, especially Auslan specialists, are in high demand. However, if you choose a reputable service provider like OzTranslationServices, you can get an interpreter faster. When you book an interpreter, make sure to mention all these:

Date
Time
Setting type
Duration
Purpose (legal/medical/general)

Additionally, please specify whether you require the interpreter to be physically present or if video remote interpreting (VRI) will suffice.

Once you have hired an interpreter, here’s what you can expect:

Before the appointment – The interpreter arrives or logs in before the scheduled time to understand the context.
Certification levels – It is always recommended that you hire a certified interpreter to ensure accuracy and proper communication of messages.
Prices – When you share your details, the service provider will share a price quote. Check and pay to confirm the hiring.

Alphabet and Fingerspelling of Sign Languages

Everyone who needs to learn sign languages starts with learning the A-Z or its equivalent in sign form. Fingerspelling can be defined as the use of hands for representing individual letters of the written alphabet. This acts as an important tool that helps signers manually spell out names, places, and things that do not have any established sign.

You will not find sign language for every individual object. For example, you will come across a sign for ‘tree’, but you will not get anything specific for a particular tree.

The Auslan alphabet uses a two-handed system and shares its core structure with British and New Zealand sign languages. Here’s what to expect:

A. Hands and Mechanics

The dominant hand acts as the pen, and the non-dominant hand acts as the paper or stationary base. For vowels, you must point your dominant index finger to the fingertips of your non-dominant hand, starting from the thumb. You need to keep your palms facing towards your body or tilted comfortably to the person you are communicating with.

B. Learning Auslan

There’s something called the J trace that you will come across while learning sign language in Australia. The J requires a clear motion where the index finger traces from the tip of your non-dominant middle finger down into the palm. If you are looking for how many languages are spoken in Australia, remember to include Auslan in it as well.

C. Usage Context

Deaf Australians often use fingerspelling for Aussie slang, local place names, and brand names. Also, it is common to drop the final letters of a fingerspelt word if the context becomes obvious to the recipient mid-sign.

Not all languages use the Latin alphabet like English, and therefore, the sign language alphabets differ. You will come across a few manual alphabets that are one-handed, such as in ASL and French Sign Language, and others use two hands, like BSL or Auslan.

What Are the Different Categories of Sign Languages?

There are different types of sign language around the world, and they are grouped based on their origin, structure, and usage.

The broad categories that the sign languages fall into include:

A. National Sign Languages

National sign languages are the primary sign languages used in a specific country or region. American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), French Sign Language (LSF), and Chinese Sign Language (CSL) are a few of the examples.

B. Sign Language Families

Similar to spoken languages, sign languages can also be grouped into language families. For example, ASL, LSF, and various other languages belong to the family of French Sign Language. It shows that the languages share historical influences and similarities.

C. Indigenous and Village Sign Languages

There are a few small communities that develop their own sign languages. This happens in communities with a higher number of deaf individuals in one place. The indigenous and village sign languages are generally passed through generations, but they might not be known to others beyond the community.

D. Home-Sign Systems

The home-sign systems are unique, gesture-based communication methods and are developed within individual families. These systems are usually used when a deaf person, generally a child, grows up in a hearing household where no one uses any established sign language.

These are not full languages in the linguistic sense and consist of personalised signs and gestures for basic communication.

E. International Sign (IS)

This is a pidgin-like system and is used for global communication, specifically at international Deaf events. This is not a fully developed sign language and generally borrows elements from various sign languages. The objective is to enable cross-cultural understanding.

The Various Types of Sign Languages in the World

American Sign Language (ASL) – ASL is used by an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people in the USA. While ASL follows the same alphabet as English, ASL is not a subset of the English language.

Chinese Sign Language (CSL) – CSL is considered among the most widely used sign languages, largely due to China’s large deaf population.

French Sign Language (LSF) – LSF heavily influenced the development of ASL. However, the two are now distinct languages.

Japanese Sign Language (JSL) – The JSL fingerspelling is partly based on the Japanese kana syllabaries, which are mainly made up of phonetic syllables. This language is known as Nihon Shuwa in Japan.

Arabic Sign Language – The Arabic Sign Language belongs to a family of sign languages used across the Arab Middle East. There is very little data on the language.

Spanish Sign Language (LSE) – The Spanish Sign Language is recognised officially by the Spanish Government. While it might not be listed as one of the hardest languages to learn, mastering it is not easy.

Mexican Sign Language (LSM) – The sign language is different from Spanish and uses different verbs and word order. Most LSM users are concentrated in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Ukrainian Sign Language (USL) – The USL is derived from a broad family of French Sign Languages. USL uses a one-handed manual alphabet of 33 letters.

Indo-Pakistani Sign Language – This is one of the most widely used sign languages in South Asia. Official recognition remains limited, though India’s ISLRTC provides government-backed training and research.

Plains Sign Talk (Indigenous to North America) – The Plains Sign Talk is an indigenous language that was once used by the Plains Nations to facilitate trade, share stories, conduct ceremonies, and as a daily language for deaf community members.

Final Thoughts

Sign languages are used throughout the world and are popular among various communities. Understand the significance of the language and learn it in case you want to communicate with members of the Deaf Community.

There are many ways to learn how to fingerspell, and that might help you communicate with different communities. Understanding how the languages differ is the first step towards appreciating them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sign language is used in Australia?

Australia uses Auslan, which is a part of the BANZSL family and is related to British and New Zealand Sign Language. It uses a two-handed alphabet, and Auslan interpreters are certified.

Is Auslan interpreting free in Australia?

The Disability Discrimination Act states that government agencies, healthcare providers, and numerous employers must provide interpreting access. In most cases, the fee of the interpreter is paid by the organisation providing the service, and not by the deaf individual. However, the arrangements might vary.

What’s the difference between an Auslan interpreter and a translator?

An interpreter deals with spoken or signed language and works in real time, while a translator mainly works with written text.

How far in advance should I book an Auslan interpreter?

You need to book an Auslan interpreter well in advance since they are in high demand.

Can I use VRI instead of an in-person interpreter?

You can use VRI for numerous cases. However, you must understand that VRI works well for shorter or less complex appointments. You will need an in-person interpreter for court proceedings, complex medical situations, or places where non-verbal context matters.

What is the most common sign language?

There is no single global sign language. However, American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the most widely used and recognised sign languages, with hundreds of thousands of users in the United States, Canada, and several other countries.

What services offer remote sign language interpreting in Australia?

OzTranslationServices offers remote sign language interpreting in Australia.

How to hire a certified sign language interpreter for events in Australia?

You can visit our website and fill out the order form with the requirements to hire a certified sign language interpreter for events in Australia.

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Liam Harper

Hello! I am Liam Harper. I am the Senior Translator at OZTranslation Services. I am proficient in five languages- English, French, Espanol, Mandarin and Arabic. Passionate about language preservation, I also mentor aspiring translators in polishing their skills. To Know More Check Now.