migowy

Migowy is the Polish adjective and noun form used to refer to sign language and related matters. In Polish, the standard term for sign language is język migowy, with migowy functioning as the descriptive form in phrases such as materiały migowe (sign-language materials). In most contexts related to Poland, the Polish sign language is called Polski Język Migowy (PJM), a distinct natural language used by Deaf communities.

Migowy emphasizes the visual-gestural modality of communication, incorporating hand shapes, movements, facial expressions, and body posture; it has its own grammar and lexicon that are not direct representations of spoken Polish.

Polish Sign Language (PJM) is used in education, media, public services, and interpretation. Deaf organizations promote access to information and interpretation in migowy, as well as the rights of sign-language users. Training programs for interpreters and incorporation of sign-language resources in classrooms are common elements of accessibility efforts in Poland.

The term migowy also appears in broader Polish discourse about Deaf culture and sign-language resources, and it is part of a larger international landscape of sign languages, which vary by country and region. See also Polski Język Migowy, sign language, Deaf culture, and sign-language interpretation.