2.1. Community characteristics

The sign language community refers to individuals who use sign language, commonly known as signers (De Meulder et al., 2019; Gras Ferrer, 2006). These communities have historically developed independently of the surrounding spoken languages, emerging in specific geographic regions where deaf individuals maintain social and cultural interactions through their respective sign languages. For example, while spoken Spanish is used in Mexico, Spain, and Argentina, the sign languages used—Mexican Sign Language, Spanish Sign Language (LSE), and Argentine Sign Language—are distinct languages.

In the case of LSE, the signing community encompasses deaf, deafblind, and hearing individuals who use LSE to varying degrees in their daily lives. Hearing individuals in this community include professionals such as interpreters, linguists, and teachers, as well as family members of deaf individuals. Native signers are not limited to deaf people but also include children of deaf parents, known as CODA (Children Of Deaf Adults) or heritage signers. As with other Western sign language communities, LSE’s linguistic community is fluid, welcoming signers with varying levels of proficiency, including those who learn LSE outside of familial contexts through formal education or social contact (De Meulder et al., 2019). In Spain, the sign language and deaf communities have traditionally been viewed as one entity, as deaf, deafblind, and hearing individuals share similar sociolinguistic values and attitudes toward LSE. However, subtle distinctions between these communities do exist.

The deaf community, as a social group, is primarily composed of deaf individuals who share a common language and cultural heritage, identifying themselves as a linguistic minority with a unique culture and identity (Massone, 2010; Moreno Rodríguez, 2000; Minguet Soto, 2000; Padden, 1980; Pérez de la Fuente, 2014; Rodríguez Martín, 2016; Schembri & Lucas, 2015; WFD, 2019; Woll & Ladd, 2010). Historically, schools for the deaf and associations have played a crucial role in the community’s development, providing spaces where deaf individuals use sign language and share common experiences and values.

The deaf community is distinguished by its shared language—sign language—its visual perception of the world, which shapes deaf culture, and its unique social identity. It fosters a sense of belonging rooted in a collective history of oppression, resistance, solidarity, and a well-organised associative structure. In Spain, as in many other countries, deaf individuals often face discrimination fueled by audist ideologies, prompting deaf associations, particularly the Spanish National Confederation of Deaf People (CNSE), to advocate for their rights. Beyond the shared experience of deafness, individuals in the community may hold intersecting identities related to gender, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic status.

Ultimately, the deaf community forms the heart of the signing community, which is enriched by deafblind and hearing signers who share its sociolinguistic values and attitudes.

Esteban Saiz, M. L. (2024). Socio-historical background: Sign language community: Community characteristics. In S. Villameriel García (Ed.), Gramática de la Lengua de Signos Española (GramLSE) / Grammar of Spanish Sign Language (GramLSE). Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad-Centro de Normalización Lingüística de la Lengua de Signos Española. Retrieved Month DD, YYYY, from https://cnlse.es/es/recursos/gramlse/ingles/index/socio-historical-background/sign-language-community/2-1-community-characteristics