what is sign language?
Sign language is a vital means of communication for Deaf communities worldwide. Far more than a set of gestures, it is a fully developed linguistic system with cultural significance.
Sign language is a fully developed language that uses visual gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey meaning. It is an essential tool for communication, particularly for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Sign language includes hand signs, but it also involves non-manual signals such as facial expressions and head movements, which can modify the meaning of signs or show emotions.
In contrast to spoken languages, which are phonetic, sign languages are gestural and spatial. This means that, just like spoken languages, sign languages have their own grammatical structure, syntax, and rules that govern how sentences are formed and understood.
Sign languages are rich, fully developed languages used by Deaf communities across the globe. While some people assume there is one universal sign language, this is not the case. In fact, there are more than 300 different sign languages worldwide, each with its own grammar, vocabulary, and cultural identity.
Just like spoken languages, sign languages develop naturally within communities. They are shaped by local culture, history, and the needs of their users. For example, American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) are completely different languages, even though both countries share English as a spoken language. ASL is more closely related to French Sign Language (LSF) due to historical ties in Deaf education.
Many countries have their own national sign language, such as Dutch Sign Language (NGT) in the Netherlands, South African Sign Language (SASL), and Japanese Sign Language (JSL). Within these languages, regional dialects may also exist.
In some countries, sign language is officially recognized as one of the national languages. For example, in the Netherlands, NGT was granted official status in 2021. However, in many parts of the world, sign languages still lack formal recognition, limiting access to education, public services, and equal participation in society for Deaf communities.
Examples of national sign languages are:
American Sign Language
British Sign Language
Chinese Sign Language
Danish Sign Language
Dutch Sign Language
French Sign Language
German Sign Language
Indo-Pakistani Sign Language
Japanese Sign Language
Russian Sign Language
South African Sign Language
Swedish Sign Language
Vietnamese Sign Language
Understanding the diversity of sign languages helps promote inclusion and respect for Deaf communities worldwide. Whether you're learning a sign language to communicate with a family member or for professional reasons, it’s important to recognize that each sign language reflects the unique culture and identity of its users.
While sign languages differ from country to country and even from region to region, International Sign (IS) has emerged as a way for Deaf people from different linguistic backgrounds to communicate with each other in a more unified manner. International Sign is not a fully standardized language (that's why it's not called "International Sign Language"), but rather a pidgin form of sign language used in international settings like conferences, events, and meetings. It combines elements of different national sign languages, with gestures that are more widely understood across cultures.
However, IS should not be confused with any national sign language. It is more of a practical tool used for cross-cultural communication, especially in international contexts where multiple sign languages are spoken. It's not a formalized language in the same way that ASL or NGT are.
Fingerspelling is a method used in many sign languages to spell out words using handshapes that represent individual letters of the alphabet. It’s especially useful for spelling names, technical terms, or words that don’t (yet) have a specific sign. However, fingerspelling is not intended to replace standard signs and is typically used only when no established sign exists.
While fingerspelling exists in most sign languages, the alphabet varies by country. For example, ASL uses a one-handed fingerspelling system, while British Sign Language uses two hands. Fingerspelling is an important part of communication and supports clarity and understanding, especially in mixed-language or formal settings.
Here you can find a sign language fingerspelling alphabet from Ethiopia and here one from Côte d'Ivoire.
At Kentalis International Foundation, we offer training programs for professionals working in inclusive or Deaf education in the Global South. We don't offer sign language courses.
However, our parent organization int he Netherlands, Royal Kentalis, does offer various courses to help you learn the Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT) or Dutch Supported with Signs (Nederlands met Gebaren; NmG). Learn more about the opportunities on their website: www.kentalis.nl/gebarentaal (information in Dutch).
Sign language plays an essential role in creating inclusive communities, offering Deaf individuals the opportunity to express themselves, interact with others, and access information in ways that spoken language cannot. It helps break communication barriers, which is what we're all about.
If you’re interested in learning more about the role of sign language in education for deaf or hard-of-hearing children, have a look at our courses. At Kentalis International Foundation, we don't offer sign language courses, but we offer a variety of courses in the field of deaf education, focused for example on teaching deaf children how to read, assessing sign language development in children, and audiology.
If you're interested, learn more about our mission or consider making a donation to support our work in the Global South.