International Day of Sign Languages

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
International Day of Sign Languages
The official logo of International Day of Sign Languages
Also calledIDSL
Observed byWorldwide
Begins23 September 2018 (5 years ago) (2018-09-23)
Date23 September
Next time23 September 2024 (2024-09-23)
Frequencyannual
Related toInternational Week of the Deaf

International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf.

The choice of 23 September is the same date that the World Federation of the Deaf was established in 1951.[1][2]

History Of Sign Languages[edit]

Visual meaning is communicated through sign languages. The number of these languages in the world is unknown. Most nations have their own native sign language. In certain cases, there are multiple ones. The background of sign languages may be something you're interested in learning more about. Groups of deaf people have utilized these languages for centuries. In reality, Plato's Cratylus from the 15th century BC has one of the earliest examples of a sign language in writing.[3]

The history of sign languages before the 19th century is not well understood. The material is restricted to manual alphabets, also referred to as fingerspelling systems. These were developed in order to translate words from a spoken language into a sign language. Pedro Ponce de Leon is thought to have invented the first manual alphabet.[3]

Abbé de l'Épée established the first school in Paris for deaf kids. The most well-known alumnus from this class, which graduated in 1755, is perhaps Laurent Clerc. Together with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, he traveled to the United States and founded the American School for the Deaf in 1817. The institution, which has about 174 current students, is located in West Hartford, Connecticut, and is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the US.[3]

The relationship between spoken languages and sign languages is complex and varies more by nation than by spoken language. For instance, English is widely spoken in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the French Sign Language is where American Sign Language (ASL), which is used in the United States and English-speaking Canada, originally originated. It is unrelated to the sign languages of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. International Sign is used at international gatherings, such as the Deaflympics and World Federation of the Deaf meetings. Gestuno was the previous name for this.[3]

Themes[edit]

  • 2018: With Sign Language, Everyone is Included![4]
  • 2019: Sign Language Rights for All![5]
  • 2020: Sign Languages Are for Everyone!
  • 2021: We Sign for Human Rights![6]
  • 2022: Sign Languages Unite Us![6]
  • 2023: A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere! [7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "United Nations declared 23 September as International Day of Sign Languages - WFD". WFD. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  2. ^ "Third Committee Approves 16 Drafts with Friction Exposed in Contentious Votes on Glorification of Nazism, Cultural Diversity, Right to Development ! Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". UN. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  3. ^ a b c d "International Day of Sign Languages". Days Of The Year. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  4. ^ "International Day of Sign Languages and International Week of the Deaf 2018 - WFD". WFD. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  5. ^ "Announcement: Sub-themes of the International Week of the Deaf - WFD". WFD. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  6. ^ a b "Announcement". WFD. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  7. ^ "International Week of Deaf People 2023". WFD. Retrieved 2023-09-19.