Sign Language: A Fundamental Right of the HI People

Er. Prabhat Kishore

The world is going to celebrate the “International Day of Sign Language” on September 23 for the full realisation of the rights of hearing-impaired people. Sign language is a means of communication through body movement, especially hand, finger, arm, head and facial expressions, besides particular symbols developed. It is a full-fledged natural language with its own grammar and lexicon. This practice is older than speech.

Since conventional speaking requires the sense of hearing for people to speak, sign language helps hearing-impaired people to communicate with others as well as among themselves. This aids in the social inclusion of hearing-impaired people and leads them to a path of all-round development with dignity.

The history of signs is as old as civilisation itself. When there was no formal language, signs were used for communication. Initially, the baby and his/her family connect with each other through signs. Over a period of time, standard sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), Indian Sign Language (ISL), etc. have been developed, which are effective communication tools for HI persons to survive in the world.

Sign language is used where speaking is not possible or is difficult. It can be frustrating for HI people if they are not able to communicate properly with the people around them. Sign language bridges the language barrier between the hearing-impaired and the speaking people.

Sign language is a naturally evolved language like other oral languages and is considered to be the mother tongue of HI people. Like other spoken languages, sign language is also used to convey feelings, thoughts and information to recipients. Sign language interpreters translate oral language into visual-manual language to enable HI people to understand information.

According to Census 2011, there are more than 13 lakh HI people and more than one crore people with hard-of-hearing conditions in Bharat. As per the WHO report, by 2050 nearly 250 crore persons will have some degree of hearing loss and at least 70 crore will need hearing rehabilitation worldwide. Hence, there is a need to promote sign language in various areas for the betterment and upliftment of HI persons. Once hearing children learn sign language, it will enable them to intermingle with their HI counterparts, which will be useful for mainstreaming and inclusive education.

Access to information through sign language is a fundamental right of HI people. It is also essential to provide educational, vocational, social and personal guidance in sign language to HI people. Such people face a lot in the form of social stigma and discrimination. The lack of facilities, such as the unavailability of signage at public places and challenges in schools and workplaces, makes their day-to-day life difficult.

The absence of sign language interpreters in schools is an important barrier to the schooling of HI persons, which ultimately results in either such people remaining uneducated or being forced to drop out. Under Samagra Shiksha, efforts have been made to provide proper hearing equipment to HI children so that they can cope with the lessons taught and remain in the mainstream.

It is the need of the hour that sign language be promoted effectively in every walk of life, not only for HI people and persons working with them, but also for all members of society and families where such persons live.

Awareness and sensitisation activities will pave the way to change the mindset of society as well as families, which will prove to be a milestone in the long run for mainstreaming HI people and the welfare of the country.

(The author is a technocrat & academician. He holds a Master’s in Engineering from MN Regional Engineering College, Allahabad/Prayagraj.)