The structural differences between sign languages and spoken languages make them fully developed natural languages. Deaf people also utilize an informal version of sign language known as international sign language when they are traveling and interacting with others. It is regarded as a pidgin kind of sign language that is less sophisticated than natural sign languages and has a constrained vocabulary.
The use of sign languages is encouraged and recognized under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It makes it clear that sign languages have the same status as spoken languages and requires state parties to make it easier to learn sign language and support the deaf community’s linguistic identity.
The International Day of Sign Languages was declared by the UN General Assembly on September 23 in order to highlight the significance of sign language for the full realization of deaf people’s human rights.
Up until the 19th century, nothing was known about historical sign languages. The information was limited to manual alphabets, also referred to as fingerspelling methods. These were developed to convert words from spoken to sign language. The first manual alphabet is thought to have been created by Pedro Ponce de Leon.
HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE DAY:
1- Learn sign language
2- Participate in raising awareness
3- Organize a fundraiser
For more details please read these blogs:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day