It conveys ideas, information, and emotion with as much range, complexity, and versatility as spoken languages.

ASLASL is the language typically used among Deaf adults. ASL is not encoded English nor is it universal. Pidgin Signed English/PSEPSE describes naturally occurring varieties which incorporate traditional ASL signs in a flexible English grammatical order.

PSEEnglish is mouthed exactly as spoken when interpreted. Signs are used with an attempt to retain the conceptual meaning of ASL rather than English, so that "right" would be signed different ways depending on its conceptually accurate meaning.

Manually Coded English/MCEMCE is the term for contrived systems for encoding English in manual form.

Examples of MCE are Signing Exact English (SEE), LOVE, Manual English, Signed English, and many other derivatives.

MCEThese systems of visual English are attempts to precisely represent the English language, both its grammar and vocabulary, through the means of speech reading.

Signs are placed in English order with signs representing English grammatical forms, such as suffixes and prefixes.

MCEMany systems of sign English have been developed in response to a desire of some educators to teach English to deaf children.

Many of these English sign systems currently in use are the center of great controversy.

MCEStudies show that MCE, due to its inability to conceptually translate information, may be detrimental to acquiring literacy.

Difference between ASL and MCEASL is considered its own language due to the unique rules of grammar different from English.

In contrast, Manually Coded English (MCE) systems are not distinct languages.

Difference between ASL and MCEThe usefulness of MCE is at the forefront of debate.

This controversy is mainly due to the borrowing of ASL signs and the claim and misconception that MCE is a language.

Difference between ASL and MCEMCE was invented in an attempt to show English grammar on the hands.

MCE systems borrowed ASL signs, but used English sentence structure.

Signs were invented which were needed to express components of English grammar not found in ASL.

Although word-for-word translation of ASL makes it look like bad English, it must be stressed that this is no more the case than word-for-word translation of French, Russian, or Chinese would be bad English.