This post was created to highlight Chinese Sign Language in honor of September 23rd, The International Day of Sign Languages.
Signs of the Chinese Sign Language (CSL) are just like written Chinese characters. These signs have been developing since the late 1950’s.
The People’s Republic of China has the Chinese Sign Language (or CSL or ZGS) as the national signed language. They have two dialects in CSL: Southern (Shanghai) CSL and Northern (Beijing) CSL. Hong Kong Sign Language is the language in Hong Kong. CSL was recognized by the central government in the 1950s.
Around 20M deaf people in China use Chinese Sign Language to communicate with one another.
There are many ways in which CSL is spread in China for the deaf. Schools and workshops are two such means. Chinese deaf people who are not a part of these groups usually use home sign languages instead of the standard CSL. The Chinese have a National Association of the Deaf, namely, R.O.C. which was founded by deaf people in the US to help increase the quality of living for the deaf in China. Much like the National Association of the Deaf in the US, this organization worked to improve the welfare of the deaf in China, to promote the deaf community, and encourage the education of deaf people using sign language.
In some ways, CSL is similar to ASL. The signs in CSL look similar to how the ASL manual alphabet looks like when expressed. However, CSL was not influenced by American Sign Language.
ONLINE SPACES FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITIES:
CSL is likewise gradually making progress in the online network, with interpersonal interaction locales and blogging stages being utilized to share materials and spread consciousness of fundamental gesture based communication. Online media is likewise going about as a space for hard of hearing individuals to communicate with CSL and use CSL in new manners, for example, in online recordings and music.
Next we are going to have a brief about of the oldest sign languages in use, which is the American Sign Language.
