Abstract
Sign languages are the dominant means of communication between deaf people and a prominent feature of their culture. They are natural languages and are not a product of construction since they have developed spontaneously through assembly and the need for communication. The development of a healthy identity and the ability to fully integrate into society depends on how individuals relate to their environment and vice versa. Sign languages are natural languages that have phonological, morphological, and syntactic systems, but are not the same among different countries. Hence, sign languages have national characteristics, which can be considered an alternative part of nation branding, as part of the overall national identity. It is through national identities and their characteristics that countries embark into a nation branding building process, which is a long process that requires many years of commitment, national policies, and strategies.
TopIntroduction
The modern era could rightly be described as privileged, since in the category “communication” there has been a spectacular development. Today, through advanced technology and human ingenuity, the media have evolved significantly, reaching its most advanced stage. After all, one of the most valuable tools of the mankind, in whatever part of his evolution one looks at, is communication (Moores, 1996). Through this, the information is initially served by the transmission of important information. All human-interpersonal relationships are based on it, they develop and at the same time evolve at a very fast pace. Communication also achieves the expression of emotions in a set of people whether it is family, company or work. Among the thousands of languages that have been developed is sign language. A different communication code that, if we manage to decipher it, we will discover images but also sounds that the imagination cannot capture (Lucas, 2001).
Sign languages are natural languages emerging in atypical socio-demographic conditions: the need to communicate between or with people who do not have full access to the audio-vocal channel.
The only language that is not based on written and spoken language but on facial expression, the symbolism of words with handwriting and phrases with hand movements having a complete syntactic structure. The perception of the world is dominated by the wrong impression of the existence of an international sign language, while in fact each country has developed its own with different meanings and its own separate alphabet. However, there is some common ground for deaf people to communicate in different countries, as the International Sign Code has been created. In fact, according to records that were made, there were 137 sign languages in the world in total.
Aim of the Article
In this article, the aim is to discuss the association between sign language and communication, in its nonverbal version, and the interaction with culture and national identity and branding.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Communication: Sending and receiving thoughts, data, beliefs, behaviors, and emotions - through one or more media - that elicit a reaction ( Birdwhistell, 1970 ).
Nonverbal Communication: Non-verbal communication is the process by which a person influences someone else's behavior, mental state, or emotions by using one or more non-verbal channels ( Argyle, 2013 ).
Nation Branding: The formulation of a communication strategy, differentiated from classical diplomacy and, the high policy that aims at managing the identity of a country through the utilization of its national characteristics ( Anholt, 2005b ).
Sign Language: Sign language is the natural language of the Deaf is visual and satisfies their need for communication. Each Deaf country and ethnic community has its own Sign Language (Hiddinga, 2011 AU37: The in-text citation "Hiddinga, 2011" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).