{"id":3763,"date":"2016-04-27T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2016-04-27T08:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?p=3763"},"modified":"2017-08-23T16:23:42","modified_gmt":"2017-08-23T16:23:42","slug":"overlooked-languages-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"Overlooked Languages: Recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we bring our exploration of somewhat overlooked languages to a close, we would first like to take a glimpse back at how far we've come.<\/p>\n

We discovered that descriptive video service is so much more than just glorified commentary, that sign language interpreters are some of our most entertaining and unsung of heroes, and that Braille is, without a doubt, possibly the closest we will ever get to a language that is almost universal \u2013 but that Braille itself isn't even considered<\/i> a language.<\/p>\n

As the great Paula Abdul taught us, we've taken two steps forward and exactly two steps back...<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Photo via Wikimedia \/ Wikimedia<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

In our previous article in this series we asked the question: why are languages such as sign language and Braille so often not<\/i> listed amongst the options of languages that you can or can't speak?<\/p>\n

Let's start with Braille.<\/b><\/p>\n

Braille is, surprisingly to us, still seen as merely a system for interpreting languages rather than being a language in its own right. If\u00a0computer programming<\/a> can be thought of as a language, then we say, Braille can too, right? Whilst we're grumbling a little to ourselves about inequality for Braille, we want to take a moment to talk a little about Braille use in our everyday lives.<\/p>\n

Braille availability is becoming more widespread; think medicine and hazardous liquid bottles such as bleach, a vast range of food packaging, ATM machines, and menus in places like Nandos and Pizza Hut.<\/p>\n

Attitudes are certainly changing, with people generally recognising the need for Braille as an available resource, that provides users with freedom and independence they would otherwise not necessarily have.<\/p>\n

What might seem contradictory is that Braille use is apparently in decline. As an example, of the two million visually impaired people in the UK, only around 1% (18-20,000) actually use Braille, and only around 2000 regularly order books from the Braille library service.<\/p>\n

Learning a new language? Check out our\u00a0<\/b>free placement test<\/b><\/a>to see how your level measures up!<\/b><\/p>\n

Resources such as screen-reader software for computers and smartphones appear to have taken away the need for people to learn to read Braille for themselves. Even the wealth of available audio books has taken away the necessity for reading by touch; it's much easier to load up a CD or MP3 than patiently stroke over page after page of text.<\/p>\n

Perhaps in a world where less is more and now is not soon enough, the time it takes to not only learn Braille but then to actually use it could be put to better use, with the assistance of a range of new technologies. However, it should be pointed out that forward-thinkers like Apple are doing their bit to make the world accessible for visually impaired users still wanting to use this amazing tool, by producing a Braille keyboard that can be used with many of their products.<\/p>\n

Still, Braille is still out there, getting exposure, and in both regular and sporadic use; we bet you didn't know that Kendrick Lamar's album sleeve has a hidden message written across it in\u00a0Braille<\/a>, and that even our favourite royals\u00a0William and Kate<\/a> recently learned a little Braille on their visit to India.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Photo via Wikipedia \/ Wikipedia<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

One day we might see Braille written under the languages I speak<\/i> heading of our CVs instead of in the skills section<\/i>. One day...<\/p>\n

Over to sign language...<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2026 the recognition of which varies across the globe. In some countries it is nothing more than a tool that receives 'protected status' in areas such as education. In others, such as Russia, there is very little legal recognition of it as a language at all.<\/p>\n

Official state language recognition is on the up: 2003 for the UK's BSL, and 2007 for Spain's Catalan and Spanish Sign Languages.\u00a0India's<\/a> parliament is currently being petitioned by the likes of Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy and Coca-Cola India president Venkatesh Kini, to make sign language an official language there too.<\/p>\n

There is even technological process in the making for sign language users: Two students from the University of Washington have developed\u00a0this<\/a> pair of gloves that can translate sign language into text or speech: we are beyond impressed.<\/p>\n

A change is coming, and it's good<\/i>. (to paraphrase\u00a0Sam Cooke<\/a>...)<\/p>\n

Spreading awareness<\/b><\/p>\n

Perhaps what helps the spread of sign language recognition is seeing some of our favourite people supporting those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or using sign language themselves.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Sign Good Morning<\/a> campaign in the UK had an absolute wealth of celebrity endorsement, with everyone from Harry Potter to Gandalf signing good morning<\/i> on London Underground's digital screens (okay, so it was actually Daniel Radcliffe and Ian McKellan, but... close enough, and still British treasures).<\/p>\n

Obama made a deaf student's day back in 2012 by\u00a0signing back<\/a> to him when he was waiting in line for an impromptu meet and greet.<\/p>\n

And\u00a0this<\/a> beautiful rendition of Paul McCartney's My Valentine, signed by Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp, is surely incentive enough for you to want to learn this language for yourself.<\/p>\n

In summary...<\/b><\/p>\n

...Sign language exposure is out there, and it is<\/i> recognised as a language, as it rightly should be. And we, as language lovers, are all about communication, whatever form it comes in. If you can learn it, use it, and communicate in it, it is<\/i>, by definition, a language.<\/p>\n

We hope you have enjoyed our little soir\u00e9e into the unknown waters that were our overlooked languages; we know we've broadened our horizons whilst writing this, and we certainly hope we've done similar for you too!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we bring our exploration of somewhat overlooked languages to a close, we would first like to take a glimpse back at how far we’ve come. We discovered that descriptive video service is so much more than just glorified commentary, that sign language interpreters are some of our most entertaining and unsung of heroes, and(\u2026)<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t \t\t\t\tCONTINUE READING »<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":3765,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[512,510,66,511],"class_list":["post-3763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-politics-religion-history-law","tag-alternative-language","tag-braille","tag-language","tag-sign-language"],"yoast_head":"\nOverlooked Languages: Recognition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the final part of our overlooked language series, we address the role that Sign Language and Braille have in the world of languages and their popularity.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Overlooked Languages: Recognition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the final part of our overlooked language series, we address the role that Sign Language and Braille have in the world of languages and their popularity.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Listen & Learn\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-04-27T08:00:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-08-23T16:23:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"762\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kelly\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kelly\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/\",\"name\":\"Overlooked Languages: Recognition\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-04-27T08:00:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-08-23T16:23:42+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1f4e451a01bf1f48458a026613ec8f54\"},\"description\":\"In the final part of our overlooked language series, we address the role that Sign Language and Braille have in the world of languages and their popularity.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":762},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Overlooked Languages: Recognition\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Listen & Learn\",\"description\":\"Language Courses and Language Services UK\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1f4e451a01bf1f48458a026613ec8f54\",\"name\":\"Kelly\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f702f0568496aba44d31e668b970c282?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f702f0568496aba44d31e668b970c282?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kelly\"},\"description\":\"Hi, I'm Kelly and I am a freelance writer and a CELTA-qualified ESL teacher from the UK. As a writer, I get to cover a range of topics by working for a variety of clients in a number of industries. My focus when writing for Listen and Learn is on language and travel, but away from that, I like to write a lot about animals and the environment. Travelling while writing gives me a fresh perspective for all the things I write and allows me to consider everything from opposing points of view thanks to the people I meet along the way. Europe is an amazing place to travel. The countries vary so much, as do the languages, cuisines and ways of life. Though underneath all of that, travelling has really taught me that people are just people, and that we have more similarities than we do differences. We talk a lot at Listen and Learn about languages teaching us so much more than purely vocabulary and grammar, and it is true; there is nothing as exciting as getting to talk to someone you might not normally get to, just because you have made the effort to learn some of their language. Teaching English has given me further insight into the importance of understanding other languages and cultures. I've taught lessons on beaches about the climate crisis and the impact of oil spills on marine animals, and helped students in train stations to practise booking train tickets and make travel plans. I've worked with laboratory technicians in large conglomerates and newly qualified architects starting their own companies; people with completely different lives to mine. And it has been a privilege getting to know them all! Though the most rewarding thing about teaching is seeing students achieve their goals. There is nothing as satisfying as seeing students proud of their hard work and going on to achieve amazing things as a result!\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/author\/kelly-wang\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Overlooked Languages: Recognition","description":"In the final part of our overlooked language series, we address the role that Sign Language and Braille have in the world of languages and their popularity.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Overlooked Languages: Recognition","og_description":"In the final part of our overlooked language series, we address the role that Sign Language and Braille have in the world of languages and their popularity.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/","og_site_name":"Listen & Learn","article_published_time":"2016-04-27T08:00:55+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-08-23T16:23:42+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":762,"url":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kelly","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kelly","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/","url":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/","name":"Overlooked Languages: Recognition","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg","datePublished":"2016-04-27T08:00:55+00:00","dateModified":"2017-08-23T16:23:42+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1f4e451a01bf1f48458a026613ec8f54"},"description":"In the final part of our overlooked language series, we address the role that Sign Language and Braille have in the world of languages and their popularity.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Photo_2-2.jpg","width":1024,"height":762},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/overlooked-languages-recognition\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Overlooked Languages: Recognition"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/","name":"Listen & Learn","description":"Language Courses and Language Services UK","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1f4e451a01bf1f48458a026613ec8f54","name":"Kelly","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f702f0568496aba44d31e668b970c282?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f702f0568496aba44d31e668b970c282?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kelly"},"description":"Hi, I'm Kelly and I am a freelance writer and a CELTA-qualified ESL teacher from the UK. As a writer, I get to cover a range of topics by working for a variety of clients in a number of industries. My focus when writing for Listen and Learn is on language and travel, but away from that, I like to write a lot about animals and the environment. Travelling while writing gives me a fresh perspective for all the things I write and allows me to consider everything from opposing points of view thanks to the people I meet along the way. Europe is an amazing place to travel. The countries vary so much, as do the languages, cuisines and ways of life. Though underneath all of that, travelling has really taught me that people are just people, and that we have more similarities than we do differences. We talk a lot at Listen and Learn about languages teaching us so much more than purely vocabulary and grammar, and it is true; there is nothing as exciting as getting to talk to someone you might not normally get to, just because you have made the effort to learn some of their language. Teaching English has given me further insight into the importance of understanding other languages and cultures. I've taught lessons on beaches about the climate crisis and the impact of oil spills on marine animals, and helped students in train stations to practise booking train tickets and make travel plans. I've worked with laboratory technicians in large conglomerates and newly qualified architects starting their own companies; people with completely different lives to mine. And it has been a privilege getting to know them all! Though the most rewarding thing about teaching is seeing students achieve their goals. There is nothing as satisfying as seeing students proud of their hard work and going on to achieve amazing things as a result!","url":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/author\/kelly-wang\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3763"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3763"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4457,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3763\/revisions\/4457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}