The Indian Government recently announced a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing communication and accessibility for the hearing impaired. Launched on the International Day of Sign Languages, 23rd September, these initiatives include the provision of online Indian Sign Language (ISL) courses, the development of 267 ISL signs for financial terms, a comprehensive ISL dictionary, tailored courses for special schools, and a novel WhatsApp-based video relay service designed to improve communication.
Understanding the International Day of Sign Languages
Officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017, the International Day of Sign Languages is an annual global event that celebrates not just the linguistic, but also the cultural diversity of deaf communities around the world. Held each year on 23rd September, the day aims to raise public awareness about the crucial role sign languages play in the lives of deaf communities. It also seeks to draw attention to the need to protect these languages, which millions of people worldwide use as their primary means of communication, as an integral component of human diversity. Just like spoken languages, sign languages have their own unique grammar and syntax, and are essentially complex visual-gestural communication systems. The theme for 2023 is “A World Where Deaf People Can Sign Anywhere.”
The Origins of the International Day of Sign Languages
The idea for dedicating a specific day to sign languages originated from The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation representing 135 national federations of the deaf community across the globe. Moved by the needs of an estimated 70 million deaf individuals globally, WFD proposed this day. The Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, along with 97 other UN Member States, sponsored a resolution that was unanimously adopted in December 2017, which proclaimed 23rd September as the official day to celebrate sign languages. This particular date was chosen to pay homage to the day in 1951 when the WFD was established. The International Day of Sign Languages was observed for the very first time in 2018, as part of the International Week of the Deaf.
Current State of Affair for Deaf People Worldwide
Based on data from the World Federation of the Deaf, more than 70 million people around the world are deaf, with over 80% residing in underdeveloped countries. These individuals use over 300 distinct sign languages for their day-to-day communication. The ongoing efforts by organizations like WFD and interventions by various governments, such as the recent initiatives launched by the Indian Government, serve to highlight the importance of sign languages and aim to improve accessibility and communication for this significant global population.
