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Sign Language

SIGN LANGUAGE



Sign language began in France in the 16th century. There are hundreds of sign language dialects in use around the world. Each culture has developed its own form of sign language to be compatible with the language spoken in that country.

Hearing impaired people around the world communicate using sign language as distinct from spoken language in their everyday lives. Sign language is a visual language. Forms of sign languages consist of sequences of movements and configurations of the hands and arms, face and upper torso. 

However, sign language is not a universal language. Different sign languages are used in different countries, just as different spoken languages are being used in different countries. When hearing impaired people communicate with other hearing impaired people from different nations they often use International Sign (IS).

Sign languages in most countries and communities are not written languages but just meant as a spoken language. Sign language can be used to provide and share information, tell stories, express poems, tell jokes, discuss scientific and abstract matters as well as give a speech or a lecture.

Hearing impaired children learn to use sign language from their environment in the same way as hearing children learn spoken languages from their parents and others in their community. It is important that hearing impaired children learn sign language from an early age as their first language. Their education can be achieved bilingually in the national sign language and the national written or spoken language.
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