International Day of Sign Languages 2023: Date, History, Facts about Sign Language

On September 23, the United Nations observes the International Day of Sign Languages. The International Day of Sign Languages is commemorated on this day since the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was founded on this day in 1951, as a consequence of efforts by the WFD in 2017.

Did you know that there are approximately 72 million deaf people in the world? The World Federation of the Deaf supplied this information. These individuals collectively employ over 300 distinct sign languages. Numerous individuals are oblivious that sign languages are independent languages.

Despite their structural differences, they should be accorded the same value and importance as spoken language. In addition, an international sign language exists. This is utilized by deaf individuals when interacting, traveling, and attending international meetings.

The background of International Day of Sign Languages

Sign languages are visual languages used for communication. It is unknown how numerous these languages are worldwide. Generally speaking, each nation has its own sign language. In fact, some nations have more than one. You may be interested in learning more about the history of sign languages. Deaf individuals have utilized these languages throughout history. In reality, Plato’s Cratylus, published in the 15th century BCE, contains one of the earliest accounts of sign language ever recorded.

“If we didn’t have a voice or a tongue and we wanted to communicate with one another, wouldn’t we try to make signals by moving our hands, heads, and the rest of our bodies, much like stupid people do now?”

Prior to the 19th century, historical sign languages were poorly understood. The data was limited to manual alphabets, also known as fingerspelling systems. These were developed to translate spoken language words into sign language. It is believed that Pedro Ponce de Leon invented the first manual alphabet.

The inaugural International Day of Sign Languages took place on September 23, 2018, making this one of the more recent days that are celebrated globally. This date was chosen because it commemorates the 1951 foundation of the World Federation of the Deaf. Each year, the day has a different theme. For example, in 2018, the topic was “With Sign Language, Everyone Is Included.”

2019’s theme was “Sign Language Rights for All!” It is beneficial to learn about the topic each year because it can teach you alternative ways to observe the holiday. For instance, in 2019, understanding the numerous rights of individuals who use sign language would have been an excellent way to increase your knowledge and awareness. In fact, there is nothing preventing you from doing so immediately!

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5 AMAZING SIGN LANGUAGE FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

British Sign Language is the primary language of 15,000 people in England and Wales. It is used by over 125,000 adults in the United Kingdom.

Despite the fact that both the United Kingdom and the United States speak English, their sign languages are vastly distinct; regional distinctions in sign language can also be identified, similar to how accents and dialects are reflected in spoken language.

In addition to’signs,’ British Sign Language employs facial expressions, gestures, and body language to communicate; sign language has its own grammatical system with sentence patterns distinct from spoken English.

Many sign language users use a single sign to signify their name rather than signing out the individual letters; this ‘name sign’ is unique to the individual and is similar to a nickname.

Sign language may appear to be a difficult mode of communication, but there is a reason why it is used by so many people around the world: it is easy to learn if you have the right teacher and are instructed in the right way.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES DATES