"Unlocking the Rich Tapestry of Sign Languages: Linguistic Structure, Diversity, and Cultural Significance" (KEY IJP************021)

• Mr. Albert Fidelis

Abstract

Sign languages are fully developed natural languages with unique grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, thriving within deaf communities globally. This comprehensive linguistic overview examines the definition, nature, and structural components of sign languages, including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. It explores their distinct differences from spoken languages, such as modality and spatial grammar, and highlights the diversity among various sign languages. The development, acquisition, historical, and sociolinguistic aspects are analyzed, alongside the evolution of sign languages through pidgins and creoles. The abstract also addresses the challenges faced by sign languages and the efforts in their preservation and recognition, emphasizing their significance in linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.