[Multilingual Monday] 日本手話

[aadroma]

So I managed to stumble across a game called 手話の森, Shuwa no Mori, for the Nintendo DS (game website here). Man, if only this would get ported for ASL!

Basically, using some 3D modeling, this cart quizzes you on various Japanese sign language words and phrases, explaining more specific meaning behind the words. Now, JSL is much different from ASL in a number of aspects, but certainly peculiarities of Japanese sneak in -- ございます, a very polite marker in Japanese, is also found in JSL; kanji-based words like 木曜日, mokuyoubi, "Thursday" reflect the kanji makeup in JSL (the character in question is based on "tree", in this instance).

The game in action:

Click to view

It's a fantastic concept, and I really have to iterate that this concept needs to be ported to other languages -- I'm very much an advocate that even knowing a little is so beneficial to helping bridge the gaps of communication.

While we're at it, why don't we have some JSL lessons in English?

Yeah, anything sign-related -- be it in games, media, education, etc. -- is welcome here!