Sign Language and its Role in Communication of Deaf People Małgorzata Czajkowska – Kisil Warsaw University Polish Sign Language Institute

Deaf university and college students There are few Deaf people among Polish university students. There are two reasons why that is the case: 1.Impeded communication with the environment and highly varied levels of understanding speech and lip reading 2. Insufficient knowledge of the Polish language

Communication Communication problems of Deaf people are not always directly related to the level of their hearing loss. Communication problems of Deaf people are not always directly related to the level of their hearing loss. Not all Deaf or hard of hearing persons use sign language. Not all Deaf or hard of hearing persons use sign language. It is a result of the educational path chosen for them by their parents. It is a result of the educational path chosen for them by their parents. There are Deaf persons raised orally who do not use sign language and those who do, typically graduates of schools for Deaf people. Both groups present highly varied levels of competence in the use of the Polish language.

Lip-reading Lip reading is the main communication problem for Deaf students. It is a complicated process which requires appropriate external conditions and fluency in Polish or any other language. That is why people working with Deaf university students must be familiar with specific communication behaviours.

Deaf or hard of hearing Deaf people treat their deafness as part of their cultural identity rather than a type of disability. Therefore they do not consider themselves disabled.

Sign language as a form of social identity ‘My language is me’ is a brief and clear statement by Dr Barbara Kannapell, a Deaf sociologist from Gallaudet University.‘My language is me’ is a brief and clear statement by Dr Barbara Kannapell, a Deaf sociologist from Gallaudet University. ‘To reject ASL is to reject the Deaf person … ASL is a personal creation of Deaf persons as a group … It is the only thing we have that belongs to Deaf people completely.’ ‘ ’ ‘Once I learned that ASL is my native language, I developed a strong sense of identity as a Deaf person and a more positive self-image.’

Two systems of sign communication More and more students, even those without total hearing loss, seek opportunities for using the service of a sign interpreter during classes. There are two sign communication systems in Poland, the Polish Sign Language (PJM) and Sign Supported Polish (SJM). Both those linguistic systems are highly dissimilar. The PJM is a natural language developed as the Polish Deaf community developed; it carries the culture of that community. The SJM is an artificial sign system developed in the 1960s aiming to facilitate communication between Deaf and hearing people.

Polish Sign Language Sign language is not well known in Poland, whilst knowledge of it is poor and stereotype-driven. It is so because of many years of its depreciation stimulated mainly by the Polish Deaf education sector..

Polish Sign Language The Polish Sign Language (PJM) is the basic means of communication for those who consider it to be such a tool. The Polish Sign Language is a communication system acquired by children of Deaf parents in a natural way. It is a natural language in its own right, with such qualities as being sign-focused, arbitrary, two-tier (letters and words) and productive. There is a historical dimension to it, too.

Status of the Polish Sign Language There is no act of law regulating this language. There are no standards related to its use for educational purposes. There are no standards related to the development of educators working with it. There are no standards of interpretation into the Polish Sign Language. It is treated as a sub-code of Polish, which results in mixing the Polish Sign Language with Sign Supported Polish. The Polish Sign Language has low social status.

Sign Supported Polish Sign Supported Polish (SJM) is a two-channel means of communication using phonic language (speech with sound) with clear articulation, whilst simultaneously sending messages of signs corresponding to individual words. The system uses the grammar of Polish and signs taken from sign language are meant to illustrate a verbal expression. Such a ‘sign illustration’ is called signed language and does not exist on its own but only in combination with phonic language, the fundamental basis of sign-supported language. It is used as a tool for communication of those empowered, in particular those whose first language is phonic Polish.

Sign language as an integrative agent Sign language is a ticket to the culture of the majority. Sign language is a ticket to the culture of the majority. - Learning – university study – sign interpreters during lectures - Learning – university study – sign interpreters during lectures - Arts - theatre – sign interpreters in theatres - Arts - theatre – sign interpreters in theatres - Television - teletext available for each TV programme - Television - teletext available for each TV programme Sign language has enabled President Stanisław Siła – Nowicki to prove that a Deaf student is able to successfully complete secondary education and learn English.

Summary If hearing people are to understand Deaf persons, a change is necessary in the perception of deafness not as an illness but a need of a different communication. If hearing people are to understand Deaf persons, a change is necessary in the perception of deafness not as an illness but a need of a different communication. For Deaf persons sign language is not a stigma but part of their cultural and social identity. For Deaf persons sign language is not a stigma but part of their cultural and social identity. The Polish Sign Language is a natural form of communication for Deaf people, the only one fully accessible to them, so using it they can express themselves in the fullest way possible. The Polish Sign Language is a natural form of communication for Deaf people, the only one fully accessible to them, so using it they can express themselves in the fullest way possible.

Summary The Polish Sign Language is a natural language with all its qualities, unlike Sign Supported Polish, an artificial language created by the hearing majority on the grammatical basis of a language of the majority. The Polish Sign Language is a natural language with all its qualities, unlike Sign Supported Polish, an artificial language created by the hearing majority on the grammatical basis of a language of the majority. If a Deaf child is to learn a language of the majority he/she must first experience acceptance of his/her own language. If a Deaf child is to learn a language of the majority he/she must first experience acceptance of his/her own language. The Polish Sign Language facilitates strong integration within the Deaf community as well as offers opportunities of learning the culture and language of the majority; the unknown will become familiar only through the known. The Polish Sign Language facilitates strong integration within the Deaf community as well as offers opportunities of learning the culture and language of the majority; the unknown will become familiar only through the known.