International Day of Sign Languages – September 23, 2022, Theme, history, significance why we celebrate
The International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated on September 23 by the United Nations. 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 result of efforts by the WFD in 2017.
Did you know there are around 72 million deaf individuals in the world? The World Federation of the Deaf provided this data. Over 300 distinct sign languages are used by these people together. Many people are unaware that sign languages are natural languages in their own right
They should be accorded just as much credit and significance as spoken language, despite their structural differences. In addition, there is an international sign language. Deaf individuals utilize this when mingling, traveling, and attending international meetings.
History Of The International Day Of Sign Languages
This is one of the newer days that is celebrated around the world, with the first International Day of Sign Languages taking place on the 23rd of September in 2018. The date was chosen because it is the same date as the World Federation of the Deaf was launched in 1951. Every year, there is a different theme for the day. For example, the theme in 2018 was With Sign Language, Everyone is Included.
In 2019, the theme was Sign Language Rights for All!. It is worth finding out what the theme is each year, as it can help you to learn about different ways you can observe the date. For example, back in 2019, learning about the different rights for those with sign language would have been a good way to enrich your knowledge and spread awareness. Of course, there is nothing stopping you from doing this today!
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES TIMELINES
500 B.C.
First Written Records
Plato’s Cratylus has one of the oldest recorded accounts of sign language.
60 A.D.
First Use
Sign language is used for the first time; according to the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel rendered Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, speechless due to his disbelief.
685 A.D.
First Class
When John of Beverley, Bishop of York, teaches a deaf individual to talk in sign language, it is considered a miracle, and he was subsequently canonized.
1760
First Deaf School
Before l’Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épée founded his deaf school in Paris, with his teachings based on his observations of deaf individuals communicating with their hands in Parisian streets.
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How to celebrate International Day of Sign Languages
There are a number of different ways that you can observe the International Day of Sign Languages. Of course, we believe that the best way to do this is to learn a sign language! There are lots of great resources online to help you with this. Simply learning how to greet someone in sign language can make a massive difference. Imagine how great you could make someone feel by simply going out of your way to recognize their language and making the effort to great them in a way that they can understand.
Another way to observe the International Day of Sign Languages is to increase awareness! A lot of people do not know about the different sign languages. They also don’t know about the numbers regarding how many people around the world rely on sign languages. Take it upon yourself to educate others on this day.
There are so many ways you can do this. You can opt to have friends and family around your home for appetizers and wine tasting. You can educate them on sign languages and encourage them to donate to a charity for deaf people. Another option is to simply take to social media and educate your friends and followers in this way. Share powerful messages and infographics on the subject so that you can spread the word and increase awareness. Even if you touch or educate one person, you are making a massive difference!
Finally, why not host a fundraising event for a sign language charity or a charity for deaf people? From bake sales to sponsored runs, there are so many different ways that you can get involved. Events are ideal for raising donations while also spreading the word about sign languages. You should also make the most of social media in order to drum up attention for the event you’re going to throw
5 AWESOME FACTS ABOUT SIGN LANGUAGES THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Fourth most used language in the U.K.
Over 125,000 adults in the United Kingdom use British Sign Language, and many more know how to communicate with it — British Sign Language is the primary language of 15,000 individuals in England and Wales.
Different countries have their own versions
Despite the fact that both the United Kingdom and the United States speak English, their sign languages are extremely different — regional differences in sign language can also be discovered, similar to how accents and dialects are represented in speech.
It uses more than just hand gestures
British Sign Language, in addition to ‘signs,’ uses facial expressions, gestures, and body language to communicate — sign language has its own grammatical system, which has distinct sentence patterns than spoken English.
Deaf people have ‘name signs’
Many people who communicate using sign language use a single sign to indicate their name rather than signing out the separate letters — this ‘name sign’ is personal to the individual and is similar to a nickname.
It isn’t as difficult to learn as it looks
Sign language appears to be a difficult means of communication, but there is a reason why it is used by so many people all over the world: learning it is very simple if you have the proper teacher and are taught in the correct manner.
