What are loan signs?

What are loan signs?

• A. Signs borrowed from other countries.
• B. Signs used for numbers only.
• C. Signs indicating direction.
• D. Signs used to describe color.

Answer: (A)

Loan signs are signs that come from other languages or other sign systems and are adopted into ASL. They arise through contact with Deaf communities that use a different sign language, so the sign carries the same meaning as in that source language. Historically, ASL includes many such signs from French Sign Language, among others, which is why they’re described as borrowed from other countries. Signs for numbers, directions, or colors can be native ASL signs or established forms—loan signs specifically refer to those adopted from outside ASL rather than created within it.

Loan signs are signs that come from other languages or other sign systems and are adopted into ASL. They arise through contact with Deaf communities that use a different sign language, so the sign carries the same meaning as in that source language. Historically, ASL includes many such signs from French Sign Language, among others, which is why they’re described as borrowed from other countries. Signs for numbers, directions, or colors can be native ASL signs or established forms—loan signs specifically refer to those adopted from outside ASL rather than created within it.