Why We Should All Learn Sign Language, the Native Language of Deaf People

Daily events remind us just how so divided our world has been. Division, hatred. hostility, conflict, controversy, and resentment—this web of distrust and bad attitude toward other people is simply on account of lack of a shared understanding.

While society is increasingly dividing—between the disabled and non-disabled. Between those who have tongues and can talk, and those who do not, I continue to be adamant that the future of our world, of this state, in terms of the social, economic, cultural, and institutional ‘upheaval’ of PWDs in particular, is going to be determined largely by our capacity to band together, to form interlocking clusters of efforts and creativities of people and organizations to learn to take advantage that this age presents.

An age of collaboration, communication, and creativity.

It is time to learn and acquire sign language skills. that way, no one—despite their deafness—is left out.

The way to bridge our difference—between deaf people and the large society—is for everyone to understand sign language.

Sign language is the native language of deaf people in Nigeria.

People with disabilities, particularly deaf people, are more vulnerable to unfair treatments on account of deaf individual’s poor access to language and communication. People with disabilities are a minority in whatever locale they inhabit. They struggle with high unemployment, low access to education, and difficulties engaging with the larger non-disabled society.

Poor linguistic competence—or simply poor language skills— on the part of deaf people is the greatest barrier to the socioeconomic immobility of deaf people.

Communication is essential to individual progress; it promotes a shared understanding. 

I want us to be that nation, a society that has each other’s; back regardless of station or disability.

I challenge each of us- individuals and families, organizations and social institutions, law enforcement, and government agencies, to learn and acquire sign language. 

Sign language should cease to be the sole language of the deaf. Rather, sign language should be everyone’s language, in addition to our respective native languages. Then, undoubtedly, we will begin to see a beautiful reshape of the arc of our nation. 

We will become truly one nation under God. Our nation will prosper.

Sign language is not just the language of the future, it is a language of exquisite beauty, too. It can spur social cohesion and the security of our nation because its acquisition by all can bring into the psyche of the deaf a sense of safety and belonging in a nation 

Indeed, we can have a secure Nigeria when every citizen regardless of socioeconomic status or disability feels proudly like a native- that we are shielded from harm, that our lives and properties are safe. But even critical to our security is the sense that we are all one, that out of many we are one. That we can include the excluded, give sight to the blindfolded, and a voice to the gagged. That we can be that nation, that community of abled and disabled that looks out for each other without regard for status or station.

Here are five powerful ways that the learning and acquisition of sign language can promote peace and prosperity in a nation as diverse as Nigeria.

1. It makes for economic and political participation by the Deaf community. Full participation is better than half participation. The community of the deaf is growing. The deaf community is one of the most populous of all disability clusters, but also one of the most incredibly talented segments. Yet, the communication problem remains the single-greatest challenge that is faced by the deaf. Learning to communicate with them in a “native” language is one of the best things that we can do for them. With this, our nation has the tremendous chance to tap and benefit from the incredible pool of talents that are had by this community. 

2. It puts a stop to the injustice that’s done against the deaf community by security forces: In the maintenance of law and order by our law enforcement personnel, Deaf persons remain some of the most vulnerable people, as they are often unjustifiably manhandled- treated badly long enough before it is discovered that they are unable to hear, and perhaps make a clear and coherent speech in the defense of themselves. The acquisition of sign language can help to prevent this and bring in deaf people, s sense of safety and dignity.

3. It creates in all of us a sense of unity: The learning and acquisition of sign language by the general public can create in all of us a belief that we are one people. As ethnically and linguistically diverse as our nation is, embracing sign language can bring us together as a singular, unified nation.

4. It provides us with a sense of national identity: Making the culture of a certain disabled community ours is an exceptional thing. Yet, learning to use the language of the deaf- making it ours can provide us with a sense of distinctiveness- a universal recognition that we all Nigerians, that we rise and fall together as one nation.

5. It fosters social cohesion: Sign language can be a powerful social tool that connects us all regardless of our differences or the multiplicity of our culture and ethnicity.