Australian Aboriginal sign languages

Australian Aboriginal sign languages are ways for Indigenous Australians (people who have lived in Australia for thousands of years) to communicate using gestures and body language.

Imagine you were playing a game of charades with your friends. Instead of speaking, you would use your hands, arms and body to act out what you want to say. Aboriginal sign language is kind of like that.

For example, in some communities, the sign for kangaroo might involve mimicking the movement of a kangaroo, while in other communities it might be a different hand gesture altogether. Similarly, signs for different places, animals, and actions will vary depending on the language and region.

Before Europeans arrived in Australia, sign language was especially important in areas where different people spoke different languages. Using sign language was a way to communicate with people who spoke a different language, much like how we often use gestures when we travel to a place where we don't know the local language.

Today, many Indigenous Australian communities still use sign language alongside spoken languages like English and traditional languages. Sign language is an important part of their culture and history, and helps keep their languages and cultures alive.