Is sign language the same in all countries, or are there different versions?

Most countries have their own. ASL- American Sign language, BSL- British Sign language, LSF- French Sign Language are probably the three most commonly used. Here's a list of over a hundred: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sign_language...

Fingerspelling is more universal, but then you have to know the language being spelt.

Sign language evolves just like other language does - if people do not have contact with each other their languages evolve differently.

There are different versions of Sign Language.

Some great answers here..

I also wanted to add that you'll even find slight differences in various signs even in the US. The sign for "Sunday" isn't the same in NC as it is here in MI.

Just like hearing and speaking people have accents, so do the deaf in signing.

The manual alphabet is NOT universal, neither is any signed language. It all varies by country and region.

There are some good sites already given so I won't add anymore, I'll just encourage you to use your favorite search engine and look it up!!

There are in fact different versions. For example, ASL (American Sign Language) is specific to the U.S. and maybe Canada but I'm not positive on that. I do know that Quebec Sign Language is different. Also French, German, Swedish, etc., all have their own languages. There is only a certain degree of mutual intelligibility.

On top of what people suggested, sign language in different countries is also different dues to the conflict of different hand gestures.

In one country, if you were waving good bye by folding your hand without waving your arm, you actually telling them to come here or they simply come to you.

In another country, using a certain hand gesture can mean an insult or cussing them out.

Sign language, like other natural languages, evolves differently in different places. And, contrary to popular belief, even the manual alphabet is not universal. In England and other places, they use a complicated two-handed manual alphabet described here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-handed_manual_alp...

There are several different kinds of sign language. The last article is particularly interesting.

A lot of sign is descriptive and so universal. But I'm sure there are differences. Probably closer to a universal language than anything. Imagine that.

Its not the same in all places ......

It actualy have diferrent sign languages i dont know why?

No, it is not universal. Why would anyone assume it was?