JOHANNESBURG - The Deaf Federation of South Africa wants sign language to become the country's 12th official language. More than half a million South African use the South African Sign Language SASL. Learn SASL vocabulary: random signs and LGBTQIA! South African Sign Language is also understood across the country especially when interpreters decode the message. "It is a source of great elation for … It is not an official language of South Africa. The Deaf Federation of South Africa stated that it was approaching the Committee as a suggested first step in its quest to have South African Sign Language recognised as the twelfth official language of South Africa. This follows a parliamentary committee meeting on 3 February, in which PanSALB (Pan South African Language Board), the Department of Arts and Culture and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) discussed the status of SASL and other lesser-known languages in South Africa. The change would require an amendment to the language clause in the Constitution with South African Sign Language (SASL) being added as an official language. In South African Sign Language there are five basic elements or parameters that make up each sign. He was formerly an Honorable Member of Disability Rights Parliament in South Africa. ”This is indeed a positive response not only to the deaf communities but also to the entire country,” said the Chief Executive of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), Rakwena Monareng. South African Sign Language (SASL, Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal) is the primary sign language used by deaf people in South Africa. Of the 41 countries recognize sign language as an official language, 26 are in Europe. The extent of the study also covered the understanding how deaf learners are assessed and what kind of resources and materials are required for assessment‚ which included national moderators and evaluators. The issue is expected to be placed before the House before the end of 2017. At what point should a robot be considered a person? This video has no sound, however is full subtitled. Sign Language is as old as humanity itself. 1. It is spoken by almost 1 in 4 South Africans. Send us your details and one of our consultants will be in touch, LIPCO Group (Pty) Ltd, Authorised FSP: 7508, Policies sold by LIPCO Business (Pty) Ltd, Authorised FSP 43170, Products underwritten by ABSA Insurance Company Ltd. The European Parliament approved the resolution requiring all member states to adopt sign language in an official capacity on June 17, 1988. The 6,855,082 South Africans who speak Afrikaans as a first language make up 13.5% of the country’s total population. However, for quite some time, the deaf community has been overlooked, but that could change soon. South African Sign Language Used by almost one million deaf and hearing South Africans, South African Sign Language (SASL) is the official language of the South African deaf community and has linguistic rules just like all other spoken languages do. SASL is not the only manual language used in South Africa, but it is the language that is being promoted as the language to be used by the Deaf in South Africa, although Deaf peoples in South Africa historically do not form a single group. Popularly Spoken Native Languages Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa with about 12 million speakers representing 23% of the country’s population. These are: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga; Zulu is the most commonly spoken mother tongue or home language. Sign Language became an underground language. This week we are teaching SASL Fingerspelling - Alphabet and Introduction/Greetings by Yuvini Gounden. More info about Association for the Deaf in KwaZulu Natal and info on Sign Language and the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town … that there is also the Taxi Sign Language. Afrikaans has its roots in 17th century … Afrikaans,... Picnic on the rocks at Camps bay, Cape Town. Although South Africa is regarded by many to have the best language policy in the region, it has not accorded sign language an official status. South Africa is unique for many reasons, but diversity is arguably it’s most exceptional attribute. He became a board member of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section in 2011 and delivered a statement at the United Nations in New York City about the right to an education in sign language. There are also other considerations, such as there not being a single dialect or language used by deaf people in South Africa (despite the prominence of SASL) and the challenge of implementing the language across schools, media and courts. The official languages, arranged by popularity, are isiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, English, Sesotho, Xitsonga, SiSwati, Tshivenda, and IsiNdebele. The exact date of when the constitution will be amended to include SASL as an official South African language is yet to be determined, but the long-overdue change is imminent. This means that other departments, institutions, media and facilities did not support such language. Proceedings for SASL to become South Africa’s official language officially began nearly 10 years ago in 2007, following an application by the Deaf Federation of South Africa. Recognition of South African Sign Language as the 12th official language, deaf awareness activities for the South African public, promotion of deaf culture, access to all services and facilities by deaf people, the inclusion of South African Sign Language into the curriculum of all educational level and professionalisation of South African Sign Language. The Real South African Sign Language website was established to accomplish some goals in the interest of Deaf People, Children of Deaf Adults and Sign Language Professionals. However, the matter remains controversial because of the expected cost of introducing a 12th language. The African language speaking groups . Of course, with that widespread cultural diversity comes a number of indigenous languages. English is the lingua franca of South Africa. But it must still go through a parliamentary process before the change can be … “Placing Sign Language as an official language is very important because it gives the sign language community a speakers platform to engage at a formal context. Official Languages in South Africa: - The 5 most important facts - There are 11 official languages in South Africa! Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee is preparing to present to the house of representatives that South African Sign Language (SASL) be officially recognised … It argued that millions were hindered from access. As a newcomer, you need to know that South Africa has 11 official languages, as well as many other non-official ones. In 1880 and attempt was made to eradicate Sign Language from the face of the earth. Click on the button and refresh your mind with some basic English and Sign Language grammar. Read: SA public service department wants to use only 3 official languages. …that Sign Language is the 12th unofficial language of South Africa. Pretoria – The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has welcomed the approval to allow hearing impaired pupils to choose sign language as a first language.. Umalusi, the council for quality assurance in general and further education and training, provided a research report to serve as guidance for SASL as a home language with specific reference to school-based assessment and national examinations. The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) says it is expected that parliament will make the necessary amendments to ensure that the Constitution accommodate sign language. Click on the button to see a video on the Do's and Don'ts of interacting with Deaf people. Ultimately, it is about empowering Deaf People to have more control over their language and to … Of course, with that widespread cultural diversity comes a number of indigenous languages. South African sign language covers all of the country's 11 official languages, according to the federation. This week we decided to focus on vocabulary only - but watch the space for next week video! As it stands, there are 11 official South African languages, and Section 6 of the Constitution states that everyone has the right to use the language and participate in the cultural life of his or her choice. The South African National Deaf Association (Sanda) used September - International Deaf Awareness Month - to amplify their call for the recognition of South African Sign Language (SASL) … Sign language would become South Africa's 12th official language. English. Afrikaans became an official language in South Africa with the Official Languages of the Union Act of 1925, which retroactively dated the language’s official status to 1910. South African Sign Language (SASL) has been officially recognised as a home language in the country's education system. The last years seems to have been a positive step forward for sign language. The South African government added a National Language Unit for South African Sign Language in 2001. Collectively, the African language speaking South Africans form about 80% of the overall population of South Africa. Historical Background of South African and Sign Language in General. Learning South African Sign Language (SASL) may seem daunting, but in fact the process is quite similar to that of learning any foreign language. The constitution mentions "sign language" in the generic sense rather than South African Sign Language specifically. However, English and Afrikaans are the most commonly used in public life, politics and media. Should South Africa increase the legal drinking age to 21. Paraphrase and summarise signed monologues on familiar topics using South African Sign Language (NQF level 5, 4 credits) South African Sign Language level 2B This is an intermediate course at Level 2B to be used for general and specific communication with users of the language. Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee has recommended that sign language become the country’s 12th official language. It originally came to South Africa from British … Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga made the approval this month. Sign Language as South Africa’s 12th Official Language South Africa is unique for many reasons, but diversity is arguably it’s most exceptional attribute. South African Sign Language (SASL) is the official sign language used by Deaf people in South Africa. The official languages of the Republic are Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Swati, Venḓa, Tsonga, Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa and Zulu. Earlier in 2018, it was confirmed that South African sign language (SASL) would be officially recognised as a home language in the education system and that it would be an examinable subject for the National Senior Certificate. Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee is preparing to present to the house of representatives that South African Sign Language (SASL) be officially recognised as the country’s 12th official language. While deaf schools finally teach sign language rather than trying to teach speech – and although the Schools Act had granted recognition for education purposes to sign language – it is still not officially recognised. 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