Tegnsprog

Tegnsprog, or sign language, is a natural language used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities that communicates through hand gestures, facial expressions, body movement and other visual cues. It is a visual-gestural modality and is not universal; many distinct sign languages exist around the world, each with its own grammar and lexicon.

Linguistically, tegnsprog has its own grammar, vocabulary and pragmatic rules. Signs are composed of parameters such as handshape, location in signing space, movement and orientation, and are often accompanied by non-manual markers like facial expressions and head movements that carry grammatical information. Sign languages can express complex ideas, have productive morphology and syntax, and are not simply a collection of isolated gestures.

There are dozens of national or regional sign languages, for example Danish Sign Language, American Sign Language and British Sign Language. Sign languages show regional variation and dialects, and they develop within Deaf communities through social interaction and education. They are learned as first languages from early childhood in many communities, or acquired alongside spoken languages.

In society, tegnsprog plays a central role in education, media access, public services and cultural life. Many countries provide interpretation services in healthcare, government and education, and pursue bilingual approaches that include sign language alongside spoken language to improve accessibility and inclusion.

Research and advocacy have established tegnsprog as fully legitimate languages with distinct linguistic structures and histories. The study and recognition of sign languages contribute to broader understandings of language, communication rights, and Deaf culture.