Table of Contents
Sign Language – Meaning, Structure and Social Relevance
What is Sign Language?
Sign language is an independent, visually perceived language based on hand signs, facial expressions, body posture, and spatial representation. It is primarily used by deaf and hard-of-hearing people, but can generally be learned by anyone.
Unlike spoken language, sign language does not function through spoken sounds, but through visible signs in space. It is not a simplified version of German, but a naturally developed language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and linguistic structure. From a linguistic perspective, it belongs to the natural languages.
Sign language enables the full expression of complex matters, emotions, abstract concepts, and nuanced content – just like any spoken language.
German Sign Language (DGS)
In Germany, German Sign Language (DGS) is predominantly used. Since 2002, it has been officially recognized as an independent language in the Federal Disability Equality Act (BGG). This legally established its equal status with spoken languages.
DGS differs significantly from the German spoken language. It follows its own grammar and sentence structure. While German typically follows the subject – verb – object order, in DGS the verb often appears at the end of the sentence.
Example:
German: “I see you.”
DGS: “I you see.”
In addition, sign language is not linear but spatial and simultaneous. This means that multiple layers of information can be conveyed at the same time. Direction, time reference, or relationships between people are often expressed through movements in space.
How Does Sign Language Work?
A sign does not consist of just a hand movement. Meaning arises from the interaction of several elements.
Facial expression plays a central role. It serves not only emotional functions but also grammatical ones. Questions, negations, or emphasis are often expressed through facial expression and body posture.
Another feature is so-called iconicity. Some signs are visual and depict an action or characteristic. However, many signs are abstract and must be learned – similar to vocabulary in a foreign language.
Handshape
Movement direction
Position in space
Facial expression
Head and body posture
Mouth pattern
Is There an International Sign Language?
No. There is no single global sign language. Worldwide, there are several hundred different sign languages with their own grammar and vocabulary.
German Sign Language, for example, differs significantly from American Sign Language (ASL). Regional dialects also exist within individual countries.
In international settings, so-called International Signs are often used. This is a simplified communication system based on shared visual elements. However, it is not a standardized, independent language.
Manual Alphabet and Name Signs
In addition to sign language itself, there are supportive systems.
The manual alphabet allows individual letters to be represented visually. It is mainly used to spell proper names or technical terms for which no specific sign exists. The manual alphabet does not replace sign language, but complements it.
Furthermore, many deaf people receive a personal name sign within the sign language community. This is usually assigned by others and often relates to a characteristic feature of the person. It typically remains permanently and replaces repeatedly spelling the name.
Sign Language and Deaf Culture
Sign language is not just a communication tool, but part of an independent linguistic and cultural identity. Deaf people often see themselves as a linguistic minority with their own community.
In Germany, tens of thousands of deaf people live within close-knit networks that include cultural events and distinct social structures.
The term “deaf-mute” is avoided today. It is historically burdened and factually incorrect, as deaf people are not mute. The correct terms are “deaf”.
Communication Between Hearing and Deaf People
In encounters between hearing and deaf people, barriers often arise when no common language is available. For successful communication, several simple conditions are helpful:
• good lighting conditions
• direct eye contact
• natural, clear mouth movements
• patience and respectful communication
In professional contexts, sign language interpreters are involved. They translate between spoken and sign language and enable accessible communication in education, healthcare, administration, and the workplace.
Importance for Inclusion and Social Participation
Sign language is a central component of social inclusion. Without accessible communication, people with hearing impairments face restricted or denied access to education, work, politics, culture, and digital services.
The recognition of German Sign Language and the provision of interpreting services significantly contribute to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They safeguard the right to equal participation.
Digital services, public institutions, and organizations therefore have a responsibility to remove communication barriers. Sign language is not an optional extra, but a tool for ensuring fundamental rights.
Importante Ressourcen and links
For more information about sign language and the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people, the following resources are recommended:
Deutscher Gehörlosen-Bund e. V.
Bundesverband der GebärdensprachdolmetscherInnen Deutschlands e. V.