Germany
National Sign Language
Deutsche Gebärdensprache, DGS
In English: German Sign Language
Language Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Disability Equality Act, Section 6, paragraph 1).
Legal Recognition
"Sign Language Legislation in the European Union", Wheatley, M., A. Pabsch., Edition II. Brussels, EUD, 2012:
German Sign Language is recognised as a language in its own right in the Disability Equality Act (Gesetz zur Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen, BGG) from 2002:
"German Sign Langauge is recognised as a language in its own right." (par6(1)).
It makes a distinction between German Sign Language and Sign Supported German (Lautsprachbegleitende Gebärden, LBG). Par6(2) recognises LBG as a communication form of German, rather than a separate language. Deaf people have the right to use sign language (par6(3)) and the right to an interpreter for official purposes, who has to be paid by public agencies (par9(1)). This law is of federal nature - all 16 states have now also passed state legislation (Landesgleictellungsgesetze, LGG) to provide support not only at federal level but also at state level. (..)
Because education is not a matter of federal law but of state law, German Sign Language is not mentioned within nationwide educational legislation. Educational approaches very therefore from state to state and range from full oral education to bilingual environments."
Number of Deaf Sign Language Users
200.000 (EUD website, December 2016)
National Sign Language (Research) Centres
- Institut für Deutsche Gebärdensprache und Kommunikation Gehörloser, Universität Hamburg
- SignGes: Kompetenzzentrum für Gebärdensprache und Gestik RWTH Aachen