How does sign language work?

Sign Language: A recognized language

Sign language is an independent, natural language that is “spoken” in Germany by 80,000 deaf and 60,000 people who are hard of hearing. The term ‘natural’ is used to describe languages ​​that evolved naturally over time and were not artificially constructed, as is the case with Esperanto, for example. In contrast to spoken language, sign language is not audible, but only visually perceptible. It mainly consists of different hand signals, the gestures, which are combined with each other. Facial expressions, mouth images (silently spoken words or syllables) and posture are also important components. Most deaf people learn sign language as their mother tongue, because deafness is often a congenital disability. But also oneHearing impairment can lead to severe hearing loss or deafness.

Sign language is scientifically recognized as an independent and full language. Because it has its own grammar, fixed rules, proverbs and even dialects and slang, e.g. from young people. These things evolve by definition in any natural language. However, the grammatical structures are fundamentally different from those of spoken language. For this reason, gestures cannot be translated one-to-one into sounds. Sign language can also transmit multiple pieces of information at the same time. For example, the statement “drives over a bridge” is represented with just a single gesture.

As in spoken language, it is also possible in sign language to ‘call’ or ‘whisper’ by making the gestures either with large enough movements that people who are further away can recognize them or by saying them directly in front of the body executes so that only the direct interlocutor can recognize them.

Sign language for the blind deaf

There is also a sign language for people who are not only deaf but also blind. With so-called tactile sign language, communication works via physical contact, so that the various gestures can be felt.

Sign Language: International Differences

There are probably as many sign languages ​​as there are spoken languages. In the German-speaking area there are three: German sign language (DGS), Austrian and Swiss German. Within each of these languages ​​there are in turn different dialects. So it happens that, for example, a speaker of American Sign Language (ASL) and one of English do not understand each other because they are two different languages.

However, the sign languages ​​of the different countries are often more similar to each other than spoken languages, so that in many cases there is a basic understanding. International Sign Language is used at international events. There are also certain signs that are valid for everyone, such as the number signs.

In the USA there is even a university that only communicates in sign language. The first deaf university in Europe is planned for Bad Kreuznach.

Learn a sign language

Learning a sign language is comparable to learning a foreign language in terms of effort. The earlier your child starts, the easier it will be, because people learn a language more easily when they are children than when they are adults. If a deaf child also has deaf parents who sign to each other and to the child, the child’s language development will be normal.

It becomes problematic when both parents of a deaf child are hearing. They then have to laboriously learn the signs as a foreign language before they can pass them on to their child. It is often noticed very late that a child cannot hear. In this case, important time for language development is lost because language acquisition is not automatic, as is the case with hearing children.

Sign language courses are offered by adult education centers, among others. Of course, people who are not deaf can also participate there. At some universities, students can also take such a course. You can get additional information about course offerings in your area from various associations and groups, for example from the German Association for the Deaf

Sign language as a key to one’s own culture

If your child is deaf, it is extremely important that they have access to sign language as early as possible. It usually starts on its own, unconsciously gesturing and using hand signals to communicate. There’s even something like infant gibbering with gestures, which starts around the age of six months. But so that a correct language system can develop from this and your child learns to speak, support is very important.

There is a real deaf culture in Germany that your child can participate in if they know sign language. Because this is the basis for the identity of the deaf, but also the best opportunity for your child to acquire knowledge. Because learning spoken language is usually very difficult if you can’t hear. Despite this, most deaf children today grow up bilingually (two languages) because they learn to read, write or recognize lip movements in spoken language.

Being deaf is not always easy in a society where communication is based on spoken language, but with the help of sign language, deaf people can communicate with each other and with their hearing fellow human beings and take part in cultural and social activities for the deaf. For example, there are special sports groups or theater performances.