Sign Language (BSL) is to become a bigger part of our daily lives with more of an opportunity for all to learn it and, in turn, opening doors for deaf people.
BSL will be introduced as a GCSE in England from September 2025 following a consultation with parents, teachers and organisations from the deaf and hearing communities.
And it’s not just BSL.
According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide, with more than 300 different sign languages.
Monday September 23 is the International Day of Sign Languages so what do we know about the day?
What is the International Day of Sign Languages 2024?
The day is celebrated annually and was organised by the United Nations.
Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, with many different forms all over the globe.
There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when travelling and socialising. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.
Organisers say: “The International Day of Sign Languages is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.
“The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realisation of the human rights of people who are deaf.”
They believe that by governments allowing and promoting early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is “vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals”.
What is hello in sign language?
The British Sign Language dictionary helps people who want to learn how to say specific things in sign language and shows the correct action to do.
For saying hello in BSL, you simply wave your hand near the side of head to form the greeting.
What is the sign language emoji?
The deaf person emoji features a hearing-impaired person motioning towards their face. They're actually signing the word “deaf” in American Sign Language by gesturing with their index finger from their ear to their mouth.
