TAKING A LOOK AT SIGN LANGUAGE

There are more ways to communicate than by speaking. We take a look at sign language systems that make a big difference in the lives of deaf people and those with learning difficulties.

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More than four million people in South Africa are deaf or hard of hearing, but not much recognition is given to this in our communities. However, in July last year, the National Assembly announced South African Sign Language (SASL) as the 12th official language of the country, recognising this minority group.

“The official recognition of Sign Language has not only confirmed its status as a legitimate language, but has also raised awareness about the progress made by the deaf community,” says Naomi Matthys, a lecturer in SASL at North West University. “It has had a tremendous impact on deaf education and accessibility for deaf scholars, and has also highlighted the need for further improvements in the quality of services that should be provided to the deaf in various sectors.”

IT’S OFFICIAL
In 2012, SASL was included as part of school curricula by the Department of Basic Education, and in 2014 a standardised SASL curriculum was offered to deaf learners up to matric level.

Fast forward to 2022, and the first bilingual SASL dictionary was developed and is now available as an app on smartphones. According to the South African Government Official Information and Services blog, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke of the benefits of SASL giving better-quality education, services, public information and other opportunities to those with hearing impairments.

The milestone of recognising SASL as the 12th official language was an important step in promoting inclusivity and equality, and preventing unfair discrimination, as stated in the Constitution.

“This official recognition followed from an intensive and extensive public consultation process, which is in line with the country’s founding democratic principle to take into account people’s opinions and their input towards building a better life for all,” said Deputy Director-General Nomonde Mnukwa.

When something or someone is different from what we are used to, it typically leads to isolation and division, Naomi says. However, she adds: “Embracing diversity and gaining knowledge from it can only foster individuals of greater value”.

She explains that because many deaf children only ever witness a hearing lifestyle, and there is often an expectation that they should adapt to follow somewhat of a meaningful ‘hearing’ lifestyle, it’s no surprise that there remains a stigma. However, she notes there has been progress in increasing education and information within the deaf community.

“Our perspectives influence our relationships and conduct, and once we can embrace a fundamental change in our understanding of deafness and Sign Language, completely new possibilities will become accessible to the hearing and deaf community,” she says. “There has been progress in this regard, as more individuals are training to become SASL interpreters, and more students in various fields, such as education, nursing and psychology, are taking SASL as an additional subject in university.”

While there are still significant challenges in providing equal access to resources for the deaf community in areas such as education and employment, it is undeniable that they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to, Naomi says.

HOW DO YOU LEARN SA SIGN LANGUAGE?
There are many resources available to learn more about SASL, both online and in print. Some of these include:

– National Institute for the Deaf: Learn the alphabet using DIY videos, worship songs and stories. Posters and educational books are also available. nid.org.za – Real SASL: Alphabet charts, word lists and video guides. There’s also an app available. realsasl.com – The Sign Tutors: YouTube channel to learn SASL, taught by deaf tutors. (@southafricanlanguage) – eDeaf: Offers deaf skills development training. edeaf.co.za

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SIGN LANGUAGE VS MAKATON
Looking towards the hearing community, there are individuals who also struggle to effectively communicate verbally or who have struggles with learning languages during childhood. This could be due to not understanding concepts, poor literacy skills or struggling with a language which is not their mother tongue, such as English.

Enter Makaton, a communication tool that uses signs. Ky-Leigh Wright, a Grade 1 teacher at Pinelands North Primary School in Cape Town, has been spreading the word about Makaton on her TikTok account.

“Having an autistic cousin in my family and working at a full-service, inclusive school, I was keen to learn how best to communicate with my children with communication barriers, ADHD and autism,” she says. When watching her videos, you’ll pick up that Makaton uses features similar to SASL, but the two language systems are quite different.

“Makaton differs from Sign Language in that you speak and sign simultaneously. That way, regardless of your learning style, you are able to either see the sign and comprehend it or associate the word with a sign to consolidate its meaning,” Ky-Leigh explains. “We use it in conjunction with the rest of our teaching and learning.” For example, when teaching Afrikaans, the spoken and written word is taught alongside the sign to help them fully comprehend it.

Makaton originated in the UK in the 1970s and was introduced to South Africa in 2010. In the UK, it was noted that through the implementation of Makaton, many of the challenging behavioural issues teachers faced were reduced significantly when verbal communication was accompanied by Makaton signs.

To promote this educational tool and improve the experience of children with language difficulties (and their parents’ communication), Ky-Leigh regularly shares videos of her Makaton classes – affectionately recognised by her ‘Time for Makaton’ jingle at the start.

“Exposure to Makaton on TikTok has created a safe space for individuals to share their stories with regards to communication barriers. And in teaching the public basic Makaton, we are enabling the possibility of an inclusive form of communication for all,” she says.

Indeed, in a country with 12 official languages, we could soon all be speaking in signs too.

By Saadiqah Schroeder
Text courtesy of Man Magazine
Photos: Gallo/Getty images
Illustration: Shutterstock