Austrian Sign Language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Austrian Sign Language |
|
|---|---|
| Österreichische Gebärdensprache (ÖGS) | |
| Native to | Austria |
| Native speakers | 10,000 (2006) |
| Language family |
French Sign
|
Austrian Sign Language, often called ÖGS (short for Österreichische Gebärdensprache in German), is the special way that deaf people in Austria communicate. It's a visual language, meaning people use their hands, faces, and body movements instead of sounds to share ideas and talk to each other. About 10,000 people in Austria use ÖGS. It became officially recognized by the Austrian government on September 1, 2005. This was a big step, giving ÖGS the same importance as spoken languages in Austria.
Contents
Understanding Austrian Sign Language
ÖGS is a complete language with its own grammar rules, just like spoken languages. It's not just acting out words from German. Instead, it has its own unique ways of forming sentences and expressing thoughts. Imagine a language where your hands and face do all the talking!
How ÖGS Works
When people use ÖGS, they combine different hand shapes, movements, and positions. They also use facial expressions and body posture to add meaning to what they are saying. For example, raising your eyebrows or leaning forward can change the meaning of a sign. This makes ÖGS a very rich and expressive language.
ÖGS and Other Sign Languages
Even though ÖGS is used in Austria, where German is spoken, it's not directly based on spoken German. However, it does share some similarities in its grammar with German Sign Language (DGS). This is because both languages have some historical connections. It's a bit like how Spanish and Italian are different but share roots. ÖGS is part of the French Sign Language family, which means it has some connections to French Sign Language and other sign languages that developed from it.
Why ÖGS is Important
Having ÖGS officially recognized means a lot for the deaf community in Austria. It helps ensure that deaf people have equal rights and access to education, jobs, and public services in their own language. This recognition also helps protect and promote ÖGS, making sure it continues to be used and learned by new generations.
Images for kids
-
ÖGS Fingeralphabet
