September 23rd is the International Day of Sign Languages!
Today there are more 300 different types of sign languages used mainly by people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but also those who can’t physically speak or otherwise struggle to engage in spoken conversation.
Sign Language is essential for the over 150.000 people in the UK who speak it as their primary or preferred language and their loved ones, however some aspects of it are commonly misunderstood:
“All sign languages are the same.”
There are over 300 different sign languages that are fundamentally different from one another.
Just like people from different countries speak different languages, individuals who use sign language use different signs!
There are even regional dialects, just like with spoken languages.
“Someone who knows sign language automatically knows English.”
Sign languages such as BSL (British Sign Language) have their own vocabulary, grammar and syntax.
Many primary BSL users can find it challenging to read written English, as it fundamentally differs from sign language.
For that reason many sign language users consider it their first language.
“When talking to a deaf person with an interpreter, I should just talk to the interpreter, because the deaf person can’t hear me anyway.“
Absolutely not! Just because they cannot hear you, doesn’t mean you should not address them directly. The interpreter is a tool for them to understand your words so they technically aren’t even a part of the conversation.
When talking to a deaf person it is generally considered quite rude to not talk to them directly.
“People who use sign language can also read lips.”
While it is true, that some people who use sign language can also read lips, you shouldn’t expect them to!
Lip reading is difficult to learn and is not always accurate. Some studies suggest only about 30-40% of spoken language can be accurately lip read.
“Only deaf people use sign language.”
Sign language is used predominantly by deaf people and those hard of hearing, but not everyone who uses sign language is deaf!
Sign language can be a very effective communication tool as well for people with speech impairments and learning diffulties.
There even is a type of sign language, called Makaton, that is specifically designed for hearing individuals with learning or communication difficulties.
Where Can I Learn Sign Language?
Britishsign.co.uk offers great resources from finger spelling to evening courses, online and in person.
Additionally, more and more schools and universities around the country have started offering BSL as a language option.
The simplest form of sign language is finger spelling. While it isn’t enough to be able to effectively communicate, it can be a fun start! Why don’t you give it a try?
Now you should be able to figure out what this says:
Or maybe, if you just want to say hello, these could be useful:
I hope you learned something new and maybe even give it a try!