Islamic signs added to Dutch sign language, prompted by Muslim parents
By Agnes van Wijnen (agnes@kantel.nl)
Dutch sign language was recently enriched with 163 signs concerning the Islam religion. Effatha, an institution where deaf children learn sign language (among other things), took the initiative to develop the Islamic signs. The 163 signs - presented on video and CD-ROM - enable children and adults who use Dutch sign language to learn and communicate about the Islam religion.
The signs were developed after frequent questions from Muslim parents of deaf children, who were unable to communicate with their children about Islam religion. The Dutch sign language so far contained no signs for typical Islamic words. Deaf Muslim children, who accompany their parents to the mosque, knew the rituals but were unable to learn about the background of the rituals and the contents of the Koran. And just as important, deaf adults and children were unable to talk and discuss Islam religion with each other. The signs are also important for communication between teachers and students at school, conversation among students, and among adults. For example, around 40% of the deaf children who take lessons at the Effatha institution are Muslims.
Finding little in Europe, project team imports signs from Morocco
Every human being has the right to communicate on whatever subject; language has to enable that. The project team who developed the Islamic signs, considered this basic right as their leading principle and motivation.
The signs were mostly imported from Morocco, after an unsuccessful search in the Netherlands and other European countries for useful signs concerning Islamic teachings and rituals. The project team traveled finally to Meknès in Morocco, where they visited the deaf community and to Rabat to a school for deaf people. In Meknès and Rabat they learned 90 new signs. The Moroccan sign language looks very differently from the Dutch, but using International sign language the member of the Dutch project team were able to communicate with their Moroccan teachers.
Changing unclear or culturally inappropriate signs
Beside the new signs. the project team after intense study transformed 73 already existing signs which were unclear or did not correspond with the experience and feelings of Muslims. For instance, folded hands are the sign for praying for Christians, but Muslims pray with their hands in the air. And the regular sign for washing is unfit to express the ritual washing. There already existed a sign for 'the prophet', but for Muslims this is confusing. When they talk about 'the prophet', it always concerns Mohammed.
Basic list to be tested and evaluated
It turns out that the 163 new signs still offer little opportunity for a really profound conversation, but a significant start has been made. In about one and a half years the basic list will be evaluated and Effatha may consider investment in a further extension of the list. The Effatha team does not intend to introduce Christian, Hindu or Buddhist signs in the near future. There seem to be enough Christian signs in the Dutch sign language. Compared to the high costs such a project is confronted with, there is so far simply not enough demand for Hindu or Buddhist signs in the Netherlands. The basic list of Islamic signs will be also available in print shortly.
Source: Petra Noordhuis in Trouw, Islam gebarentaal, 30/10/2002
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