Wanneer: jaarlijks, 23 september.
On September 23, the world reflects on sign language on the International Day of Sign Language. The day is a lasting reminder of the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf.
Origin
It is straightforward to remember. The day is linked to the day the World Federation of the Deaf was founded. That was on September 23, 1951. Therefore an International Day of Sign Languages on September 23.
World Deaf Day
The day may coincide with World Deaf Day. Usually, this day is held on the last day in September. Since 2019, this has indeed been the case.
There is no one language when it comes to sign language. There are 125 sign languages and another 18 village sign languages. Consider the latter as the language of a particular area or region.
Not always for granted
It was not always taken for granted that sign language was considered normal. Indeed, this is still not the case in some cases. Inclusion does not always apply, because the standard is still the oral way of communication. This is just not possible, even by renouncing or copying speech. For a long time, sign language was even thought to be harmful to children in particular. it was not until the 1960s that this myth would be debunked. With that, sign language was not allowed in one step.
Sign language was banned because it was dangerous and was not part of the norm. This created isolation for people who were or should be dependent on sign language. Linguists have long resisted the complete emancipation of languages.
No scientific evidence has been presented that the use of sign language would lead to the non-use of the language areas used by speakers. Research showed that, on the contrary, it did. The well-known American neurologist Oliver Sacks (9 July 1933 – 30 August 2015) demonstrated this with his research. Yet it would take until the 1990s for sign languages to gain more acceptance. Unfortunately, in some cases, this is still not the case.
When a television broadcast is provided with sign language support, it invariably generates criticism. People wonder why subtitles do not suffice. Subtitling is not the same as sign language. Why should someone have to rely on text when a language is an option? Because that is what sign language is.
Discussion
The ongoing debate is how far science goes to enable people who rely on sign language to enter the world of those who can hear. This is possible, for example, through a cochlear implant (CI). This internal hearing aid is inserted through surgery. The results are extraordinary a the videos are special to watch. It enables people who previously could not hear to hear. This raises the question of whether sign language will still be necessary.
A solution like CI is not possible or an option for everyone. Moreover, expectations can sometimes be too high. Not everyone will opt for this solution. There will have to be respect for that too. Therefore, sign languages are not superfluous. Therefore, a day of paying attention to sign language is certainly not superfluous.
More information
For more information on the day, visit the website of the World Federation of the Deaf or the UN website on the subject.
Related
Related Events
