Is sign language (with hand) a form of body language?

[Aluzky Irezumi]

Body language definition: The gestures, movements, and mannerisms by which a person or animal communicates with others. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

Body language is a form of mental and physical ability of human non-verbal communication (wikipedia body language article)

I say:
1-Body language is non-verbal communication.
2-Sign language is non-verbal communication.
3-Conclusion: Sing language is body language.

Verbal language is processed by the ears, while body language is processed by the eyes.

Since sing language is processed by the eyes, that makes it body language, correct?

Is this correct or incorrect?

Is sign language (with hands) a form of body language.
Or sign language does not count as body language?

[Hutch Hogan]

ASL is its own language.  Though depending on the region, the signer may learn a different dialect of ASL (which would result in some discrepancies for understanding), though there are regions were the spoken language is converted to sign (Sweden does this I believe).  

So the question of whether sign language is a language of its own, or is another language depends on the sign language itself, as some are their own languages, while others are sign systems for existing languages.

Sign language is a body language in that it is language or communication done through the body.  However, the term "body language", for me, pertains to physical flourishes that add silent inflection.  Sign language would not be body language, but would also have access to body language (though the speed of signing, the size of sweeps and arcs, as well as facial expression. 

[Aluzky Irezumi]

Body language is any communication done with the body, that includes sign language as you are using your body to communicate with hand signals (mainly) without using verbal communication.

[Nelson]

Body language is any communication done with the body

Verbal communication is also done with the body (mouth, larynx, etc.). By your definition this would also body language.

[Celia]

Because the term "body language" points to a form of communication with gestures rather than vocabulary, I would have to say that sign language (American Sign Language, Arabic Sign Language, Chinese Sign Language, etc.) is not a form of body language. Each sign language is equipped with grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and idioms, just like any other oral language such Spanish or French. I would describe sign language as a visual language, because signs and classifiers are used to form a picture that is used for expression and communication. Because sgn language is characterized by facial expression, I can understand why you would think that these languages fit into the category of body languages, but when evaluating more specific areas of sign language, I find that this term doesn't encompass the whole language. Body language is only one element of sign.

[Aluzky Irezumi]

"Because the term "body language" points to a form of communication with gestures rather than vocabulary"←I would say that this is a misconception.

"Each sign language is equipped with grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and idioms, just like any other oral language such Spanish or French."←I can make up a feet language with grammar, syntax, vocabulary and it would still be body language.

"I would describe sign language as a visual language"← Visual language that is read from the HUMAN BODY, which makes it BODY LANGUAGE.

Text on a paper or computer or table or any surface is called visual language. Language that is "written" in our body actions, is called body language. Sing language is "written" in our hands so it is also body language, regardless of how complex sign language is or how simple flipping the finger is, both are body language, as you are communicating something with the use of your body.

"Body language is only one element of sign"←Yea, the main element of sing language is the body itself making movement to communicate something...

[Hutch Hogan]

If you were going to create a definition of body language that encompassed sign language, why did you ask other people for their opinion if you're going to reject their opinions on the basis of your definition? 

[hannah rose myers]

sign language is verbal language actually, verbal language is language using words wether spoken written or signed.

[Eystein,]

Body language is gestures and facial expressions that are intuitively made and understood by everyone subconsciously. While it's true that sign language are conveyed by the movements of external body-parts and has to be interpreted visually, it has an artificial nature to it which takes it beyond body language. I think it is unwise to categorize these two very different forms of communication with the same term. Spoken language are actually done with the body too, so must we call that body language as well?