Slovakia
National Sign Language
Slovník Posunkovej Reči, SPR
In English: Slovak Sign Language
Language Status: 5 (Developing)
Legal Recognition
"Slovak Sign Language was recognised in 1995 by law: "Zákon o posunkovej reči nepočujúcich osôb 149/1995 Sb" - the Law of the Sign Language of the Deaf 149/1995."
"Sign Language Legislation in the European Union", Wheatley, M., A. Pabsch., Edition II. Brussels, EUD, 2012:
"Slovakia has a number of acts and laws mentioning sign language. None of these specifically mention Slovak Sign Language. Sign language (posunková rec) is used as a generic term in all legislation.
Most notably, Slovakia has a separate Law on the Sign Language of the Deaf. The Slovak Union of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was mainly involved in drafting this law. It took over three years of fighting until the law was passed in 1995.
It recognises sign language as the language of the Deaf:
Par.3 Sign Language
(1) the language of communication of the Deaf is sign language.
Further, it states that sign language is a natural visual-movement "language system" and gives Deaf people the right to use it:
Par. 4 Deaf people are entitled) the use of sign language.
Additionally, according to the law, Deaf people have the right to education in sign language (par4(b))."
Number of Deaf Sign Language Users
15.000 (EUD website, December 2016)