Importance of sign language

What is sign language?

Sign language is a visual means of communicating through hand signals, gestures, facial expressions, and body language.

It's the main form of communication for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community, but sign language can be useful for other groups of people as well. People with disabilities including Autism, Apraxia of speech, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome may also find sign language beneficial for communicating.

Who uses sign language?

Some experts argue early men likely used signs to communicate long before spoken language was created. And while we've all come a long way since then, whether you've pressed your index finger against your lips to hush a noisy child, raised your hand to hail a cab, or pointed to an item on the menu, you've used sign language in its simplest form.

Anywhere more than 40,000 speak Rwandan sign language in Rwanda alone. It's this number of the population included in the Rwanda community, it should be considered as one of your options if you're looking to learn a second language.

A. Deaf and Deaf-Blind community

Rwandan Sign Language (RSL) is the primary language of many Rwandans who are deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, and identify as part of the Deaf community. Not only is RSL different from signed English or American sign language, but it is also as different from its European counterpart as English is to French. Much like those with normal hearing can detect accents from different parts of the country, those who speak RSL can also detect geographical dialects and slang.

B. Parents

As many as 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents, which can make learning sign language a family affair. Parents who learn RSL along with their children often find it easier to communicate on a deeper level with their deaf children. Studies also indicate when a child who is deaf or hard of hearing learns RSL, their ability to learn their native language improves. The same is true of learning to lipread.

Some parents of normal-hearing children teach their infants signed English. Advocates believe babies can learn to communicate their needs - such as being hungry or thirsty - using signs before they can speak. Scientists believe children who learn a second language when they are very young develop better language skills. Due to its visual nature, sign language is a great tool for early readers and enhances spelling skills.

C. Professionals

If you're employed, learning RSL may enhance your career and give added benefits to the workplace.

•    Educators: Today more than ever it's common for educators to have children who are deaf or hard of hearing in their classroom. Many opt to learn RSL for this reason alone; however, others decide to become certified to teach RSL in public schools. Educators with RSL teacher certification are qualified to teach ASL to both hearing and deaf students.
•    First responders: Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic health condition facing older adults. As the population ages and the incidence of hearing loss increases, sign language becomes more and more relevant - especially in emergencies when communicating with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing is critical.
•    Service providers: Social workers, counselors, psychologists, and medical professionals are also finding it beneficial to learn sign language. Disabilities Associations in Rwanda requires that hospitals provide an appropriate means of communication to any patient, family member, or visitor who is deaf or hard of hearing and covers legal, education, law enforcement, and employment systems.

D. Athletes

Baseball aficionados may be interested in learning that the signals baseball players use to communicate with each other are the result of a deaf baseball player by the name of William “Dummy”. Since umpires shouted all the calls at that time, Dummy and his third-base coach worked out a series of signals to communicate balls and strikes. The practice caught fire and soon became common use among players, managers, and umpires.

Today, almost every major sport uses some type of sign language between coach and player. Not only does it keep the other team guessing, but it also provides a great way to communicate strategy when fans are making it difficult to hear.

Reasons why you should learn sign language.

It's growing in popularity. Since in Rwanda we are advancing in developing the dictionary and approve that sign language should be taught in all schools of Rwanda RSL will become one of the most popular language classes in colleges and universities. these top universities for deaf students excel at providing services and meeting the specific needs of the deaf community.

•    Learning a second language is good for your brain health: Swedish scientists discovered that learning a foreign language can increase the size of your brain. Scientists also know that people who speak more than one language fluently have better memories and can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease
•    The rewards are immeasurable: When someone you love can't hear, RSL is a great way to communicate in a rich, meaningful way. It's also the best way to develop awareness and sensitivity to the Deaf culture, a community of non-hearing individuals which number more than forty thousand in Rwanda. Whether you teach your baby to sign or learn RSL to communicate with a deaf friend or family member, you are using a full-bodied form of communication that will enhance your relationship as it improves your mind and spirit.
•    To communicate with millions of people: The most obvious reason to learn sign language and the reason that motivates millions of people worldwide is that it is the best way to communicate with the deaf and hearing impaired.
  
  But did you realize, just how many people worldwide are hearing impaired? Over 5% of the world's population or 466 million people has disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children).
  
  It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people or one in every ten people will have disabling hearing loss.
•    It makes you smarter: Learning sign language provides all the same benefits as learning a foreign language. Bilingualism in any language (whether signed or spoken) is a great brain booster. It strengthens cognitive function and reasoning and increases memory, attention span, creativity, and communication skills.
  
  Studies show that bilingual students score higher on standardized tests than monolingual students, and secondary language immersion contributes to increased IQ in students.
  
  Furthermore, sign language can be easier to learn than other spoken languages not only for the hearing impaired but also for people with autism, dyslexia, and other learning differences.
•    It gives you a superpower, expanded vision: Sign language provides all the benefits of bilingualism but also bimodal as well. Bimodal, i.e., using a visual-spatial medium, expands your visual-perceptual skills: spatial awareness, mental rotation skills, visual sensitivity, and more!
  
  Sign language helps to develop small motor skills because of the dexterity required for communicating with hand gestures. Relying on a different sense to communicate exercises your peripheral vision and trains you to become more aware of your environment.
•    It makes children smarter and better behaved: Sign language is a great way to bond and communicates with pre-verbal children, and it benefits children of all ages.
  
  Recent research confirms that signing boosts babies' vocabulary and mental development and helps to reduce childhood tantrums while deepening the parent-child relationship. Children that learn to sign gain all the benefits of being bilingual and a few extras including being better spellers and readers.
  
  Research shows that children who learn basic sign language skills in Rwanda sign language have improved spelling skills. Signing helps to give kids another tool for remembering spelling words and leaves a larger imprint on the brain. Our muscles have their mini memories, so when we add signing a word to orally spell the word, it makes it easier to remember.
•    Because it's beautiful and fascinating!: Sign language is, in fact, not one universal language but many different languages as many as 300 worldwide. The exact number of sign languages is not known as different countries have different forms of sign language that are still developing and changing over time.
  
  There are even different dialects and accents within a specific country. In the USA, for example, we all know that people in Philadelphia speak with a distinctive Philly accent, but did you know Philadelphians converse in their sign language dialect? Philadelphia is known for having one of the most distinctive regional sign language accents and it resembles French Sign Language roots more closely than American Sign

FAQ about learning sign language phrases

Sign language and all its variations worldwide are filled with a fascinating and rich history. It is a beautiful language that is unique, graceful, and filled with expression. Whatever version or specific sign language you want to learn.

Start learning today and book a trial lesson with Eurekly’s fantastic sign language tutors! And read our answers to your most common questions about mastering sign language:

•    How long does it take to learn sign language fluently? It takes around three years of regular practice to become fluent in sign language.
•    Is sign language hard to learn? While individual signs are easy to learn, it is more difficult to master the language's grammar and syntax.
•    How do deaf people learn sign language? Deaf people naturally pick it up from the people around them, just as hearing people learn spoken speech.
•    Which sign language should I learn? ASL is one of the most popular sign languages to learn.
•    Can dog learn sign language? Dogs can learn sign language with training.
•    When can babies learn sign language? Babies can begin learning sign languages from the age of 6-8 months.