Why

Linguist James Crawford argues that when a language dies, it takes four major elements with it:

1. Linguistic Diversity

2. Intellectual Diversity

3. Cultural Diversity

4. Cultural Identity

The loss of a language similar to the loss of a species; once it’s gone, there may be no way to recover what the world has lost.

Since the 1990's more and more policy has been put in place to validate, valorize, and officiate sign languages as whole and complete languages around the world. In 1995, Finland was the first country to put sign language into their constitution, with Uganda following suit later that same year. In total, 11 countries have now added their national sign language to their constitution, 4 of which are European. This site aims to add to the discussion around explicit sign language recognition as a technique of revitalizing languages. While more sign languages are becoming recognized in the constitutions of countries, the number of users appears to continue to be low. This begs the question, is adding sign language to ones constitution merely symbolic in nature?

By exploring sign languages throughout the world and their influence on other sign languages, as well as varying levels of legislation, this site hopes to give some clarity to the question, does explicit sign language recognition in a country's constitution ensure the preservation and thriving of that sign language?