Portuguese Sign Language 10 Years of Recognition 1997-2007
Director Marta Morgado, Mariana Martini
Countries
Duration 50 min
Synopsis
For almost two hundred years, the education of deaf people was oralist. Sign language, the natural language of the deaf, was forbidden. But, in secret, it was much stronger. Gradually, sign language was valued by research, education and society. A committee of deaf people, parents and teachers of the deaf was created, and the National Assembly finally recognized sign language in 1997! Then it started to be accepted in school, on the streets. But it got mixed with Portuguese language. There are more and more interpreters and less quality in their training. And hearing people learning sign language and wanting to teach it without knowing it well… And the future? Will deaf people end? Will sign language disappear?
For almost two hundred years, the education of deaf people was oralist. Sign language, the natural language of the deaf, was forbidden. But, in secret, it was much stronger. Gradually, sign language was valued by research, education and society. A committee of deaf people, parents and teachers of the deaf was created, and the National Assembly finally recognized sign language in 1997! Then it started to be accepted in school, on the streets. But it got mixed with Portuguese language. There are more and more interpreters and less quality in their training. And hearing people learning sign language and wanting to teach it without knowing it well… And the future? Will deaf people end? Will sign language disappear?