Gebärte

Gebärte is a German noun that historically referred to signs or gestures used in communication. In modern standard German, the common plural is Gebärden and the singular is Gebärde. The form Gebärte appears mainly in older texts or regional usage and is not widely used in contemporary writing. When it is used, it designates gestures or signs applied to convey information, whether in everyday nonverbal communication or as components of sign languages.

Sign languages such as Deutsche Gebärdensprache (DGS) are fully developed natural languages that rely on a system of signs produced with the hands and face, supplemented by body movements. Signs function as lexical units with conventional meanings, and nonmanual signals—such as facial expressions, eyebrow movements, and head tilts—play a crucial role in grammar and emotion. The term Gebärde can refer to a single sign or to signs in general, while Gebärden denotes the plural for the set of signs in a given language or context. In everyday usage, German speakers more commonly use Gesten for nonverbal movement and Gebärden for signs in sign languages.

Deaf communities and sign-language researchers emphasize the linguistic status of Gebärden within DGS and other sign languages, including vocabulary, syntax, morphology, and regional variation. The recognition of sign languages as legitimate languages influences education, accessibility, and cultural identity.