Wait until you find out 20% of the deaf are illiterate. Want to make the world more accessible, learn ASL and see to it the education and healthcare systems get real funding.
*Ironic typo mention below is fixed.
*Ironic typo mention below is fixed.
Or that the average reading level of people that are deaf in the US in 4th grade.
Yes, I failed to be inclusive of other sign languages. Learn the sign language that makes sense for your culture and environment, but learn a sign language!
ASL is based on LSF, or French Sign Language, because of a long history (more or less involving the person with the last name Gallaudet) but the main point is that a lot of sign languages descend from LSF. Much like how someone who only knows English can go to Germany or France or Italy and make out some of the basic words, the overlap between LSF descendants is pretty good for basic or everyday use. I'm semi-fluent in ASL and I've successfully communicated with people who use Irish Sign Language and German Sign Language (DGS).
The big stand-out is British Sign Language, or BSL. BSL's manual alphabet and root signs are dramatically different from LSF. (Since a lot of ASL words are initialized motions, like taking the first letter of the English or French word and using that handshape sign in a motion, BSL doesn't translate as quickly.)