National Sign Language
Polski Jezyk Migowy, PJM
In English: Polish Sign Language,
Language Status: 5 (Developing)
Legal Recognition
"Sign Language Legislation in the European Union", Wheatley, M., A. Pabsch., Edition II. Brussels, EUD, 2012:
"Polish Sign Language was legislated in the 2011 Act on Sign Language and Other Means of Communication. Article 3(2) defines PJM as "a natural visual-gestural language". It makes a distinction between the sign system (System Jezykow-Migowy, SJM) and PJM. (..)
Sign language is largely still seen as a 'tool' and not as an independent language despite being accepted as a language in the research area. Only a few schools use Polish Sign Langauge as part of their curriculum; most schools use SJM. On the other hand, polish sign language is now being taught as a foreign language at the University of Warsaw. Additionally, a number of postgraduate courses focussing on the linguistics of PJM are also being offered."
National Sign Language (Research) Centres
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Polish Studies, section for Sign Linguistics
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Institute of Polish Sign Language - the association promoting and studying sign language of the Polish Deaf community
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Deaf Culture Promotion Foundation KOKON - the organization supporting the development of sign language and the Deaf culture