I am very ignorant when it comes to sign language in general.
Why is it called American Sign Language? Is it based off of English? If so why not English Sign Language?
For example is their a Chinese sign language? Would someone who knows Chinese sign language be able to communicate with an American Sign Language person?
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It’s called American Sign Language because it is the primary sign language used in America. It’s largely independent from spoken English, having its own set of grammar rules. Between this, and the fact that England uses a different sign language, it wouldn’t really make sense to call it English Sign Language.
And on that subject, yes, many other regions do have their own sign languages, most of which would not be understood by users of other sign languages. There’s American Sign Language, British Sign Language, French Sign Language, and, yes, Chinese Sign Language, just to name a few.
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