INTERNATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE DAY – 23RD SEPTEMBER
We Sign for Human Rights
The date 23rd September is one of the least recognized days but is indeed one of the most important ones. The day is well known as World Sign Language day. Before dwelling deep into the topic, let us first understand the importance of language.
Language for any person is as important as food is for life. It is a medium of communication which if not there, would render our fundamental right to speak and expression useless. Unless a person is able to connect to other persons, he cannot express himself and get a place in their life and here comes the role of language. A person who doesn’t possess it knows the true value of being able to speak.
The day was recognized by the UN after a proposal and diligent efforts by an organization named the World Federation for Deaf. According to the organization, there are 72 million people who are deaf and dumb and almost 70-80% of them live in developing countries. These handicapped individuals are seen with the sight of sympathy, a sorry situation which does not solve the dilemma.
There is a very thin line between sympathy and empathy but usually people are not able to notice the difference. Sympathy makes you give money to that person out of pity but empathy pushes you to change that person’s life. It inspires you to do something for the community so that those people can also live their life with equal comfort and privileges.
The perspective needs to be changed. If you want to know about the day, Google and Wikipedia are full of information regarding this. This article embodies the need for change in society and perspective of people towards people with speaking and listening disability. In my opinion, people have to shift their view from showing sympathy for the community to having empathy for them because it’s always said that “those who bear the brunt know the actual pain”.
In order to be helpful we need to acclimatise ourselves with the manner in which they communicate and completely normalize it in our routine lives. Just like every nation has an official language that can be spoken and understood by all citizens there, sign language is a medium of communication for those with speaking disability. When we the people with the efficiency to communicate via a language misunderstand and miscommunicate our feelings and thoughts every moment, we can only try to imagine how harsh life would be for those with the disability.
Therefore, it is of utmost urgency that campaigns be organised at the root level and follow bottom – top approach to make people aware about sign language. Free sign language teaching classes should be provided to people who cannot afford them. The concept of sign language must be made common knowledge for children and adults so much so that the quote, “Sign language is a dance with words, to be enjoyed from babyhood through childhood to adulthood” by Marilyn Daniels acquires a sense of reality and normalcy.
The 2021 theme for today is, “We sign for human rights”. The theme encourages everyone to fight for the right to recognise the use of sign language in all areas of life. Let language not be a barrier in the overall development of a community because they deserve it and with development of each community, the country grows leaps and bounds.
-- Written by Shaurya Vohra, (2nd Year)
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