#WeSignForHumanRights

[pixoplanet]

It's September 23rd, International Sign Language Day. The United Nations instituted this event in 2018 to commemorate the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1951. Its purpose is to raise awareness of sign languages and deaf culture and to promote their acceptance as basic human rights of deaf people. The event has grown into a global movement of deaf unity and concerted efforts to resolve the many issues deaf people face in their everyday lives. The theme for 2021 is “We Sign for Human Rights,” highlighting how each of us – deaf and hearing people around the world – can work together hand in hand to promote the recognition of deaf people's right to use sign languages in all areas of life.

Sign languages are visual languages that transmit messages. The 72 million deaf people on our planet use over 300 distinct natural sign languages, although there is also an international sign language that deaf people use when mingling, traveling, and attending international meetings. The international sign language is considered to be a pidgin form because it isn't as complex as the natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.

Sign languages have been used by deaf people throughout history. Plato’s Cratylus, published in the 15th century BC, has one of the oldest recorded accounts of sign language. Socrates also commented on the utility of sign languages: “If we didn’t have a voice or a tongue and wanted to communicate with one another, wouldn’t we try to make signals by moving our hands, heads, and the rest of our bodies?” Naturally. ☮️ Peace… Jamiese of Pixoplanet