Sign Language Around the World: Nicaraguan Sign Language
- Queen's American Sign Language
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Did you know that one of the world’s newest languages was created by children on a
school playground, not by scientists or teachers? It might sound hard to believe, but it’s true!
Did you know that one of the world’s newest languages was created by children on a
school playground, not by scientists or teachers? It might sound hard to believe, but it’s true!
Nicaraguan Sign Language, or NSL, is a powerful example of how people can build language
and community, even in unexpected ways.
The Origins of Nicaraguan Sign Language
NSL began in Nicaragua in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Before that, Deaf people in
Nicaragua were mostly isolated and used simple “home signs” with their families. These gestures met basic needs but lacked the complexity and shared rules of a full language. For something to count as a language, it needs its own vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to express endless ideas, even about things that aren’t present. NSL developed all these features, giving Deaf Nicaraguans a rich and expressive way to communicate.
NSL’s beginnings are linked to the first special education programs for Deaf children in Managua, Nicaragua's capital. Before these schools, Deaf children were mostly separated and
could only communicate with their families. When the school opened, children from all over the
country came together to learn Spanish, lip-reading, and fingerspelling. But outside class, they
used their own home signs to talk with each other during breaks and on the playground. Over
time, these signs blended and grew into a shared system, which eventually became a full language. By the 1980s, several student groups had shaped this system into what we now call
Nicaraguan Sign Language.
Why is NSL so Fascinating?
Linguists found NSL fascinating because it developed so quickly and naturally. At first,the students’ signs were simple, but as younger children joined and learned from older students,
they added grammar and made the language more consistent. In the mid-1980s, American linguist Judy Kegl came to study NSL and was amazed to see a new language forming in real
time. She and other researchers noticed that each new group of students made the language more complex and organized, even though they didn’t know much Spanish. NSL wasn’t just Spanish in sign form; it was a unique language created by the children themselves.
How This Affected Deaf Nicaraguans:
NSL changed the lives of Deaf people in Nicaragua. Before it existed, Deaf individuals were often alone and couldn’t connect with others like them. As NSL spread, Deaf communities grew stronger. Deaf associations were formed in Managua and nearby cities. Now, Managua has a large Deaf community, and many Deaf families raise children who use both NSL and Spanish.
NSL became more than just a way to talk, it became a community!
Why This Matters for ASL Learners
For people learning ASL, the story of NSL is a strong reminder that language is deeply social. Language doesn’t develop on its own, language grows from our need to connect and share
meaning. Learning ASL isn’t just about memorizing signs or grammar; it’s also about building
relationships and community. NSL shows that our urge to communicate is natural, and that
sharing a language build’s connection.
References
Kocab, A., Senghas, A., & Snedeker, J. (2016). The emergence of temporal language in
Nicaraguan Sign Language. Cognition, 156, 147–163.
Meany, P. (2025).
The Spontaneous Emergence of Nicaraguan Sign Language. Cato.org.
Ninan, T. (2020, December 3). What Makes a Language a Language? Medium.
Yong, E. (2010, June 22). New Nicaraguan Sign Language Shows How Language Affects
Thought. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/new-
nicaraguan-sign-language-shows-how-language-affects-thought
Nicaraguan Sign Language, or NSL, is a powerful example of how people can build language
and community, even in unexpected ways.
The Origins of Nicaraguan Sign Language
NSL began in Nicaragua in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Before that, Deaf people in
Nicaragua were mostly isolated and used simple “home signs” with their families. These gestures
met basic needs but lacked the complexity and shared rules of a full language. For something to
count as a language, it needs its own vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to express endless
ideas, even about things that aren’t present. NSL developed all these features, giving Deaf
Nicaraguans a rich and expressive way to communicate.
NSL’s beginnings are linked to the first special education programs for Deaf children in
Managua, Nicaragua's capital. Before these schools, Deaf children were mostly separated and
could only communicate with their families. When the school opened, children from all over the
country came together to learn Spanish, lip-reading, and fingerspelling. But outside class, they
used their own home signs to talk with each other during breaks and on the playground. Over
time, these signs blended and grew into a shared system, which eventually became a full
language. By the 1980s, several student groups had shaped this system into what we now call
Nicaraguan Sign Language.
Why is NSL so Fascinating?
Linguists found NSL fascinating because it developed so quickly and naturally. At first,
the students’ signs were simple, but as younger children joined and learned from older students,
they added grammar and made the language more consistent. In the mid-1980s, American
linguist Judy Kegl came to study NSL and was amazed to see a new language forming in real
time. She and other researchers noticed that each new group of students made the language more
complex and organized, even though they didn’t know much Spanish. NSL wasn’t just Spanish
in sign form; it was a unique language created by the children themselves.
How This Affected Deaf Nicaraguans:
NSL changed the lives of Deaf people in Nicaragua. Before it existed, Deaf individuals
were often alone and couldn’t connect with others like them. As NSL spread, Deaf communities
grew stronger. Deaf associations were formed in Managua and nearby cities. Now, Managua has
a large Deaf community, and many Deaf families raise children who use both NSL and Spanish.
NSL became more than just a way to talk, it became a community!
Why This Matters for ASL Learners
For people learning ASL, the story of NSL is a strong reminder that language is deeply
social. Language doesn’t develop on its own, language grows from our need to connect and share
meaning. Learning ASL isn’t just about memorizing signs or grammar; it’s also about building
relationships and community. NSL shows that our urge to communicate is natural, and that
sharing a language build’s connection.
References
Kocab, A., Senghas, A., & Snedeker, J. (2016). The emergence of temporal language in
Nicaraguan Sign Language. Cognition, 156, 147–163.
Meany, P. (2025). The Spontaneous Emergence of Nicaraguan Sign Language. Cato.org.
language
Ninan, T. (2020, December 3). What Makes a Language a Language? Medium.
Yong, E. (2010, June 22). New Nicaraguan Sign Language Shows How Language Affects
Thought. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/new-
nicaraguan-sign-language-shows-how-language-affects-thought
Comments