Introduction into Sign Language

Sign language has always been a language that has interested people, because it differs from other languages. Sign language is a part of the language group we use and it can also be learned as every other language. Sign language not only can be used within def communities, but also in organizations such as FBI or Police to communicate with other members in a way only they can understand. Sign language, as any other language, has the same analytic elements, and can be used fluently to describe the same different words and meanings as in any other spoken language.
There will be described subjects as the distribution of sign language, where the author will try to tell the difference between signed languages distributed throughout the world and reveal an international sign language; there will also be the use of signs in hearing communities described, where you will see that not only def people use sign language, but it is also used within hearing people. The author will try to give a brief overview in the linguistics of sign and show that sign language can be used as any spoken language. Further topics will include such subjects as sign languages’ relationships with oral languages, that people often use sign language in their daily lives, later on you will get acquainted with the written forms of sign languages and get to know such systems as SignWriting and HamNoSys. The last described topic will be the benefits of sign language, where the author will try to unravel the great usage of the sign language.
In the end the author will try to show the statistics of sign language usage in Latvia, and try to specify the present data of sign language interpreters in Latvian def communities.
Sign language


A sign language is a language which uses manual communication instead of sound to express the meaning - simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to express speaker's thoughts. Sign languages develop in deaf communities, which can include interpreters and friends and families of deaf people as well as people who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves.
When people using different signed languages meet, communication is significantly easier than when people of different spoken languages meet. Sign language gives access to an international deaf community.
However, contrary to popular belief, sign language is not universal. Wherever communities of deaf people exist, sign languages develop, but as with spoken languages, these vary from region to region. They are not based on the spoken language in the country of origin. Various signed "modes" of spoken languages have been developed. Hundreds of sign languages are in use around the world and are at the core of local Deaf cultures. Some sign languages have obtained some form of legal recognition, while others have no status at all.

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