Interpreting the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages: Sign languages as regional and minority languages
Temas
Detalles
Sign languages have historically been excluded from legal frameworks designed to protect linguistic diversity, such as the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages (the Charter). While the Charter aims to safeguard regional and minority languages, sign languages have been omitted due to misconceptions about their linguistic status, their classification as ‘means of communication’ rather than minority languages with their own characteristics, and their frequent framing within disability rights rather than language rights. This paper critically examines the legal and policy frameworks surrounding sign languages and argues for their inclusion within the Charter.
Drawing on linguistic, sociocultural, and legal analyses, the paper demonstrates that sign languages meet the criteria of regional and minority languages as outlined in the Charter. It explores the Council of Europe’s shifting stance on sign languages, from early dismissals to more recent acknowledgments of their significance, albeit without concrete action. The study highlights the sociohistorical and sociolinguistic significance of sign languages, their role in cultural identity, and the systemic exclusion faced by Deaf communities. Furthermore, the paper contends that the Charter’s flexible interpretative framework allows for the incorporation of sign languages, addressing past exclusions and aligning with contemporary understandings of linguistic diversity and human rights.
Ultimately, this paper advocates for the formal recognition of sign languages under the Charter, urging the Council of Europe to establish a working group to address their protection and promotion. Such recognition would advance linguistic justice for Deaf communities, ensuring their full inclusion within Europe’s multilingual landscape.