Paper short abstract:

An overview on the linguistic structure of the Japanese Sign Language (nihon shuwa) will be presented. We will see similarities and differences between the oral language and the sign language which are both to be considered natural languages.

Paper long abstract:

For the linguistic description of the Japanese Sign Language, features such as hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body and facial expressions are to be analyzed. It will be shown that the sign language should not be confused with body language or additional gestures to the oral language, but it is an independent language with its own grammar.

We will find functional equivalence in the linguistic field of phonology, morphology and syntax. On the other hand, some specific ways to express grammatical categories in the sign language, which are completely different from the corresponding spoken language, will be introduced and discussed.

An insight into the Sign Language is helpful to acquire a better metalinguistic understanding of language faculty.

Furthermore, one might encourage everyone to learn the Japanese Sign Language as a foreign language - providing aspects which can be learner-friendly in comparison with Japanese and other spoken languages - for a more convivial society.