USyd SignSoc is the University of Sydney Sign Language Society. 

We run Auslan (Australian Sign Language) events on campus during semester time. Our events include classes, conversation groups, voice off board games, movie screenings and workshops.  We aim to encourage the learning of Auslan and understanding of the Deaf community and culture and provide a space for communication in Auslan at the University of Sydney. 

There are hundreds of sign languages around the world. Our society focuses on Auslan, the most widely used sign language in the Australian Deaf community.

Auslan is a natural language, which means it was not invented and instead continually develops over time. There are two dialects of Auslan: northern and southern. Sydney uses the northern dialect.

Together with British Sign Language (BSL) and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), Auslan belongs to the BANZSL language family. Not all sign languages used in majority English-speaking countries share the same origin; American Sign Language (ASL) is mutually unintelligible with Auslan and is instead part of the French Sign Language family. Likewise, there are many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sign languages that are unrelated to Auslan.

If you are interested in reading about the history and linguistics of Auslan, you can read more in the book Johnston, T., & Schembri, A. (2007). Australian Sign Language: An introduction to sign language linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.