September 23 was chosen as it marked the anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf’s formation in 1951
International Day of Sign Languages is observed annually September 23, to raise awareness of the significance of sign language creation and preservation. It aims to support the linguistic identity of hearing-impaired community and others who use them for communication.
This year’s International Day of Sign Languages with the theme “Sign Languages Unite Us” will be the fifth such celebration.
“Prime Ministers, Presidents, other government officials, members of parliaments, members of city council — should sign this year’s theme in their national sign language,” the World Federation of the Deaf wrote on their official site.
A pop-up cafe in sign language by the Swiss Federation of the Deaf was set up to kick-start the day. It was followed by a sign language theatre performance on the challenges faced by deaf refugees.
The event aims to support community members’ early access to sign language and resources, including high-quality education.
September 23 was chosen as it marked the anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf’s formation in 1951. The day was first commemorated in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf.
There are approximately 70 million deaf people in the world, according to data from the World Federation of the Deaf. More than 80 per cent of them live in developing countries. They employ more than 300 distinct sign languages collectively.
In contrast to spoken languages, sign languages are full-fledged natural languages. Deaf people also use a cosmopolitan version of sign language known as international sign language during cross-border travel and interactions.
It is regarded as a pidgin sign language that is less sophisticated than natural sign languages and has a constrained vocabulary.
Sign language is acknowledged and encouraged by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Sign languages have an equal standing to spoken languages and governments should support sign language education and the deaf community’s linguistic identity, the convention emphasised.
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There are approximately 70 million deaf people in the world. Representative photo: iStock.png)
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