sign language

noun
1.
Also called sign. any of several visual-gestural systems of communication, especially employing manual gestures, as used among deaf people.
2.
any means of communication, as between speakers of different languages, using gestures.
Origin
1840-50
Examples from the web for sign language
  • Dogs and horses can learn to respond to vocal commands, and some apes can be taught a primitive sign language.
  • Some evidence points to hand sign language as our first language.
  • Researchers develop software that compresses data, allowing real-time video to be used to convey sign language over mobiles.
  • Other research has shown that sign language uses some of the same brain machinery that hearing people use for speech.
  • Discovering the basic ingredients of language in a remote village where everyone uses sign language.
  • My kids knew sign language and would tell me using a combination of signs and verbal words what their dreams were about: stories.
  • Mentions their use of sign language to communicate with one another in public.
  • In sign language, the gap between word and sentence can be bridged naturally in a single sign.
  • And they didn't even do sign language with each other.
  • She was learning sign language to help her communicate and developing an engaging personality.
British Dictionary definitions for sign language

sign language

noun
1.
another word for signing
2.
any system of communication by manual signs or gestures