@inproceedings{27aa37090f7d46479436d62ef0bd8e75,
title = "BSL, Auslan and NZSL: three signed languages or one?",
abstract = "In this paper, I present a new analysis of the lexicons of these three signed languages and ASL using criteria recognising a distinction between signs and lexemes proposed by Johnston & Schembri (1999). The new data suggest that Auslan, BSL and NZSL should be considered as varieties or dialects of the same sign language, with an even higher degree of mutual intelligibility and lexical overlap than hitherto assumed. The data also suggest that there are varieties of BSL that differ more from each other than either does with at least one variety of Auslan. The degree of overlap in the lexicons examined suggests a closer underlying similarity in the meaning of signs cross-linguistically which cannot be explained by genetic or historical relationships alone.",
keywords = "sign language, British Sign Language (BSL), Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN), New Zealand Sign Language (NZS), sign language research",
author = "Trevor Johnston",
year = "2003",
language = "English",
isbn = "3927731889",
series = "International studies on sign language and the communication of the deaf",
publisher = "Signum",
pages = "47--69",
editor = "Ann Baker and {van den Bogaerde}, Beppie and Onno Crasborn",
booktitle = "Cross-linguistic perspectives in sign language research",
note = "Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research Conference (7th : 2000) ; Conference date: 22-07-2000 Through 27-07-2000",
}