Auslan regional dialects: why signs differ across Australia

Northern and southern dialects

Auslan is often described as having a northern and a southern dialect. The northern dialect is associated mainly with New South Wales and Queensland; the southern dialect with Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Research documents especially visible differences in vocabulary for colours, numbers and time concepts, including days of the week. The grammar and the two-handed fingerspelling alphabet stay the same across the country, so these are dialect differences, not different languages.

Where the dialects came from

The two broad dialects are closely connected to the major residential schools for deaf children established in Sydney and Melbourne in 1860. Auslan Signbank explains that the dialects may reflect differences between the schools’ deaf founder-teachers as well as the later geographic influence of the schools and cities. It’s the same story we tell in the history of Auslan.

What this means for learners

Regional variation can feel intimidating when you’re starting out, but in practice it’s rarely a barrier. Signers usually understand both variants, and you’ll pick up the version used around you naturally. A few tips:

• Learn your local signs first. They’re the ones you’ll use most in your own community.
• Stay curious, not corrective. A different sign isn’t a mistake, just a dialect.
• Learn from native signers. Real Deaf-community video shows you the variation a single chart never could.

Frequently asked questions

Does Auslan really change between states?

Yes. Auslan has regional variation, much like spoken accents and dialects. Linguists often describe a northern and a southern dialect, and everyday signs (for things like colours, numbers and days of the week) can differ from one region to another.

Where did Auslan's regional dialects come from?

They are closely connected to the first major residential schools for deaf children, both founded in 1860 in Sydney and Melbourne. Signing communities grew around the separate schools, and their patterns of influence helped establish the northern and southern dialects described today.

Will regional differences make Auslan hard to learn?

No. Signers across Australia generally understand both variants, and context makes most differences easy to follow. As a learner, it helps to learn the signs used in your own region first, then stay open to the variation you'll meet when you sign with people from elsewhere.

Sources and further reading

The factual claims in this guide were checked against the following community, government and research sources.

• History of Auslan: two major dialects — Auslan Signbank
• Sociolinguistic variation in British, Australian and New Zealand Sign Languages — Schembri et al., Cambridge University Press (2010)
• Australian Sign Language (Auslan): An introduction to sign language linguistics — Johnston & Schembri, Cambridge University Press (2007)

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