New Zealand Sign Language

New Zealand Sign Language
Name	New Zealand Sign Language
States	New Zealand
Signers	~20,000
Family	BANZSL
Iso3	nzs

New Zealand Sign Language is one of the three official languages of New Zealand, alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand English. It is the primary language of the New Zealand Deaf community and is a core part of Deaf culture in the country. The language is a member of the BANZSL language family, sharing historical roots with British Sign Language and Auslan.

History and development

The origins of the language can be traced to the early colonial period, with the first teacher for deaf children, Dorretta Gordon, arriving from the United Kingdom in the 1870s. Early education was heavily influenced by the oralism methods promoted by institutions like the Arnold schools in Britain. The establishment of the first school for the deaf, the Sumner School for the Deaf in Christchurch, became a crucial site for language development, where children mixed signs from British Sign Language with their own home sign systems. Key figures in its early documentation and promotion included Gertrude Annie Gerrard and later advocates from the New Zealand Association of the Deaf. The language evolved distinctly from its BANZSL relatives through decades of use within the insulated Deaf community of New Zealand.

Linguistic features

As a natural sign language, it possesses a complete grammar and syntax independent of New Zealand English. It utilizes a spatial grammar and non-manual signals for grammatical functions such as negation and question formation. The language employs a distinct fingerspelling system, based on a two-handed manual alphabet similar to that of British Sign Language, for representing proper nouns or technical terms. Its lexicon includes signs unique to the local context, such as those for Māori concepts, place names in New Zealand, and local flora and fauna.

Legal status and recognition

Official recognition was achieved following a long campaign led by the New Zealand Association of the Deaf and other advocates, culminating in the passage of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. This act, granted Royal Assent by Governor-General Silvia Cartwright, made it an official language of New Zealand. The Office for Disability Issues and the Ministry of Social Development have roles in its promotion. Under the act, the right to use it in legal proceedings is protected, and government agencies are encouraged to provide accessible services.

Education and acquisition

Historically, education was dominated by oralism at schools like the Kelston School for the Deaf and Van Asch College, suppressing sign language use. The 1978 Total Communication conference marked a shift, leading to greater acceptance in deaf education. Today, it is taught as a first language in bilingual education programs and as a subject for secondary school qualifications through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The Victoria University of Wellington and other tertiary institutions offer courses and degrees in its study. Early acquisition for deaf children is strongly supported by organizations like First Signs to ensure optimal language development.

Community and culture

The language is the cornerstone of a vibrant Deaf culture with its own social norms, history, and artistic expression. Key community institutions include the New Zealand Association of the Deaf and the Deaf Aotearoa organization. Cultural events such as the Deaf Festival and performances by groups like the NZ Deaf Theatre celebrate this heritage. The community has produced notable figures like author and poet Rachel Noble and advocate Jenna Ryder. The Deaf Sports New Zealand organization coordinates participation in events like the Deaflympics.

Regional variations

While largely uniform across the country, some lexical variations exist, often corresponding to the historical catchment areas of the former residential schools. The most noted variation is the Christchurch sign for certain concepts, attributed to the legacy of the Sumner School for the Deaf. Some signs also show influence from local Māori language terms, particularly in areas with strong iwi presence. Ongoing contact with Auslan users, especially in regions like Auckland, and through media, also introduces and reinforces some cross-Tasman lexical differences.

Category:Languages of New Zealand Category:Sign languages