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Finnish Sign Language
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Finnish Sign Language can be traced back to the mid-1800s when <a href="/facts/Carl_Oscar_Malm/WMKreGox">Carl Oscar Malm</a>, a Finnish deaf individual who had studied in Sweden, founded Finland's first school for the deaf in <a href="/facts/Porvoo/y0FcfpXX">Porvoo</a> in 1846. The <a href="/facts/Swedish_Sign_Language/cgrVHqjF">Swedish sign language</a> used by Malm spread among Finnish deaf individuals, evolving into its own language. The first association for the deaf in Finland was established in Turku in 1886. Albert Tallroth was involved in founding five different deaf associations and also the Finnish Association of the Deaf. By the late 1800s, <a href="/facts/Oralism/RyNS9jDz">oralism</a>, or the speech method, began to be favored in the education of the deaf in Finland. This led to the prohibition of sign language in schools, even under threat of punishment. And as a result of oralism, Finnish Sign Language and Finnish-Swedish Sign Language began to diverge. Despite the ban, students in deaf schools continued to use sign language secretly in dormitories. The use of sign language persisted within the deaf community, while spoken language learned in school was used when interacting with hearing individuals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p><p>Society started to have a more positive attitude towards the deaf and sign language after the 1970s. Sign language became a tool for rehabilitation and education, and it began to be taught in courses for parents of deaf children. In 1979, interpreter services became part of disability legislation, and in 1995, sign language gained constitutional status. In 1991, the possibility of sign language education was written into the Basic Education Act. The current Basic Education Act, as well as the latest curriculum framework for basic education in the 2014 Basic Education Curriculum, specify that "if necessary, education should be provided in sign language for the hearing impaired." Education in sign language is mandatory for deaf individuals who have learned sign language as their first language.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><th><a href="/facts/Swedish_Sign_Language_family/71HpnzMn">Swedish Sign Language family</a> tree</th></tr><tr><td><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><i>Old <a href="/facts/British_Sign_Language/nClrXDY6">British Sign Language</a>?</i> (c. 1760–1900)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Swedish_Sign_Language/cgrVHqjF">Swedish Sign Language</a>(c. 1800–present)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td><td rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Portuguese_Sign_Language/IkQUjUbC">Portuguese Sign Language</a>(c. 1820–present)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2">Finnish Sign Language(c. 1850–present)</td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td><td rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Cape_Verdian_Sign_Language/Uzcd1nrc">Cape Verdian Sign Language</a>(c. 20th century–present)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Finland-Swedish_Sign_Language/sUz7gFI5">Finland-Swedish Sign Language</a>(c. 1850–present)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Eritrean_Sign_Language/qgW7mpFp">Eritrean Sign Language</a>(c. 1950–present)</td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td colspan="6" rowspan="2"><i><a href="/facts/S%25C3%25A3o_Tom%25C3%25A9_and_Pr%25C3%25ADncipe_Sign_Language/CKJ6Bzam">São Tomé and Príncipe Sign Language</a>?</i>(c. 21st century–present)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="education">Education</h2> <p>Sign language can be studied as a major at the <a href="/facts/University_of_Jyv%25C3%25A4skyl%25C3%25A4/Kmvv3Q3N">University of Jyväskylä</a>, which also offers sign language teacher training. Additionally, it has been possible to complete basic studies in sign language and communication at the <a href="/facts/University_of_Turku/UR1bhaDH">University of Turku</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>One can study to become a sign language instructor at Pohjois-Savo Folk High School in Kuopio, at Rovala-Opisto in Rovaniemi, and at Turku Christian Institute.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>Finnish Sign Language can be studied at the Finnish Association of the Deaf Folk High School, adult education centers, and summer universities.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Carl_Oscar_Malm/WMKreGox">Carl Oscar Malm</a>, founder of Finnish Sign Language</li></ul> <h2 id="relevant-literature">Relevant literature</h2> <ul><li>Kanto, Laura; Syrjälä, Henna; Mann, Wolfgang (2021). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fdeafed%2Fenaa032">"Assessing vocabulary in deaf and hearing children using Finnish Sign Language"</a>. <i>The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education</i>. 26 (1): 147–158. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fdeafed%2Fenaa032">10.1093/deafed/enaa032</a>. <a href="/facts/PMID_(identifier)/JlHAvMHt">PMID</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33057687">33057687</a>.</li> <li>Takkinen, Ritva (2008). "The Acquisition of Finnish Sign Language". In Klippi, Anu; Launonen, Kaisa (eds.). <i>Research in Logopedics</i>. Communication Disorders Across Languages. Multilingual Matters. pp. 175–205. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.21832%2F9781847690593-011">10.21832/9781847690593-011</a>. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781847690593.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://suvi.viittomat.net/">Finnish Sign Language dictionary (in Finnish)</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080409131458/http://www.kl-deaf.fi/File/66fbe96f-9231-43f2-844d-ef5b765d8b0a/Draft_curriculum_FSL.pdf">Draft Curriculum and Structure of Finnish Sign Language</a> (PDF download, in English) – contains useful information on the grammar of Finnish Sign Language</li> <li><a href="http://suvi.viittomat.net/alphabet.php">Finnish Manual Alphabet</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ling.helsinki.fi/~fkarlsso/Languages%20of%20Finland_1917-2017.pdf">Report on Finnish Languages 2017</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Salmi, Eeva; Laakso, Mikko (2005). "Helsingin kokous". Maahan lämpimään, Suomen viittomakielisten historia. Kuurojen Liitto ry. p. 152. ISBN 952-5396-30-4. <a href="952-5396-30-4" target="_blank">952-5396-30-4</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Kuurojen historia" (in Finnish). Viittomakielisen opetuksen portti. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203441/http://www.viivi.fi/kuurojenkulttuuri/kuurojenhistoria_index.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203441/http://www.viivi.fi/kuurojenkulttuuri/kuurojenhistoria_index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/laitokset/kivi/opiskelu/oppiaineet/viittomakieli Archived 2020-11-01 at the Wayback Machine Jyväskylän yliopisto, kielten laitos, suomalainen viittomakieli <a href="https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/laitokset/kivi/opiskelu/oppiaineet/viittomakieli" target="_blank">https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/laitokset/kivi/opiskelu/oppiaineet/viittomakieli</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Luokanopettajakoulutus | Jyväskylän yliopisto". <a href="https://www.jyu.fi/edupsy/fi/laitokset/okl/opiskelu/luokanopettajakoulutus" target="_blank">https://www.jyu.fi/edupsy/fi/laitokset/okl/opiskelu/luokanopettajakoulutus</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>https://nettiopsu.utu.fi/opas/opintoKokonaisuus.htm?rid=12935&uiLang=fi&lang=fi&lvv=2012 Archived 2017-02-07 at the Wayback Machine Turun yliopiston humanistisen tiedekunnan opinto-opas <a href="https://nettiopsu.utu.fi/opas/opintoKokonaisuus.htm?rid=12935&uiLang=fi&lang=fi&lvv=2012" target="_blank">https://nettiopsu.utu.fi/opas/opintoKokonaisuus.htm?rid=12935&uiLang=fi&lang=fi&lvv=2012</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Viittomakieli ammattina". Kuurojen Liitto. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012641/http://www.kl-deaf.fi/Page/5abfdd4c-5cf2-4f17-a106-7ab52fbecf3f.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012641/http://www.kl-deaf.fi/Page/5abfdd4c-5cf2-4f17-a106-7ab52fbecf3f.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Viittomakielen opiskelu". Kuurojen Liitto. Retrieved 13 June 2020. <a href="https://kuurojenliitto.fi/viittomakielen-opiskelu/" target="_blank">https://kuurojenliitto.fi/viittomakielen-opiskelu/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>