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NZSL is a dynamic, visual language
NZSL is a dynamic, visual-gestural language which uses the hands, body, and facial expressions to communicate. While sign languages have distinct linguistic families and lineages, NZSL is unique to New Zealand.
NZSL is not a signed form of a spoken language. Like other languages, it has its own grammar and sentence structure. There are also regional differences which are known as variations. Like all languages, NZSL is a living language continually evolving.
NZSL access, use and human rights
The New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 declared NZSL to be an official language of New Zealand. The Act also provided for the use of NZSL in legal proceedings and set out principles to guide government departments in the promotion and use of NZSL.
In addition, the right to use sign languages is also covered by international conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which promotes and protects the human rights and freedoms of disabled people, and respect for dignity. The UNCRPD recognises sign languages as equal to spoken languages. Under the UNCRPD, people are entitled to have their cultural and linguistic identity recognised, including sign languages and Deaf culture.
The protections under the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi would also involve protecting the rights of Turi Māori (Māori Deaf) to use NZSL to access te ao Māori concepts.
Why is NZSL essential?
There is often an assumption that everyone understands written English. However, this is not always the case for Deaf and hard of hearing people. Without access to NZSL, many Deaf people miss out on important information and interactions within the community and within the workplace.
NZSL is important because it is the preferred (and sometimes only) language used by Deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate, to connect, and to be included in society.
Deafhood and Deaf culture
The term ‘deaf’ is an umbrella term used to refer to audiological deafness. It includes people who are born deaf or hard of hearing and people who become deaf later in life. People who are prelingually deaf were born deaf or become deaf prior to acquisition of a spoken language. Children who are prelingually deaf need to acquire NZSL in a way comparable to their hearing peers’ acquisition of a spoken language. They will then have a foundation language to learn other languages, such as English or te reo Māori.
The term ‘Deaf’ (with a Capital D) is used when referring to Deaf culture and the Deaf community. Deaf culture reflects the beliefs, attitudes, history, norms, values, traditions, and art associated with Deafhood, including the shared common language and similar life experiences. Deafhood reflects the journey undertaken to understand and identify as a Deaf person, celebrating both the language (NZSL) and Deaf culture.[1] NZSL is an integral part of Deaf culture.
This strategy uses ‘Deaf’ to refer to Deaf and hard of hearing people, while ‘deaf’ will normally be used to refer to deaf and hard of hearing children, who are still on their identity journey.
Deaf identities and intersectionality
The Deaf community is diverse including Māori (Turi Māori), Pacific people, ethnic communities, rainbow communities, and Deaf Plus / Deaf+ people (Deaf people with additional disabilities). Recognising diverse identities and the intersectionality helps to understand different experiences and barriers Deaf people have when accessing and using NZSL.
Technologies such as cochlear implants and / or hearing aids are useful tools in accessing environmental sounds. People with cochlear implants may want to develop fluency in NZSL and their Deaf identity. Involvement in the Deaf world will be important to them.
Turi Māori navigate through both the Māori and Deaf worlds
The NZSL Board (the Board) acknowledges Turi Māori as tāngata whenua of New Zealand. Turi Māori identify as Māori and as members of the Deaf community. This means Turi Māori have a dual identity – both as Māori and as Deaf. For Turi Māori, it is important to be able to navigate in the worlds of both identities.
Turi Māori face barriers accessing te ao Māori. NZSL does not always reflect Māori concepts, and there is a low number of NZSL interpreters who can confidently interpret in te reo Māori setting.
The Board recognises the Crown has obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi to actively protect the interests of Māori, which includes the interests of Turi Māori.
Outcomes for Deaf people in New Zealand
The first three years of a child’s life are key for language learning. Deaf children (0–5 years) may receive support through an early years NZSL acquisition programme. However, not all deaf children will receive early support or exposure to NZSL. The lack of access to quality education at an early age, and the resulting social isolation negatively impacts on the outcomes of deaf children and results in language deprivation. International research indicates that language deprivation can cause significant long-term harms to deaf children, including poorer health, mental health, and overall life outcomes.
Deaf students in New Zealand achieve NCEA Level 2 at a lower rate than the New Zealand average. Deaf people also have lower rates of tertiary qualification, with Turi Māori having lower qualification rates than non-Māori Deaf.
Overall, the available research indicates Deaf people have poorer life outcomes than non-Deaf people. Turi Māori are likely to have poorer outcomes than other Deaf people. Turi Māori tend to have lower levels of educational achievement, lower incomes, poorer health and mental health outcomes, with higher rates of welfare and social housing support.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
Deaf people suffered significant abuse – physically, mentally, sexually, racially, and culturally (including the denial and lack of access to te ao Māori, and te reo Māori) – in institutions and places that should have been caring for them, including Deaf institutions, and schools.
Deaf children / tamariki were denied the right to use and learn NZSL and were punished for doing so. This resulted in generations of Deaf people in New Zealand who have suffered significant and lifelong negative outcomes due to not being allowed to learn NZSL. It also had, and continues to have, impacts for their family members, including parents, siblings, partners, and children.
NZSL is also used by other people in New Zealand
In addition to the Deaf community, other people also use NZSL to communicate. These include:
- the deafblind community: Many deafblind people use NZSL or tactile signing to communicate. This can include fingerspelling (using NZSL to spell words directly onto the palm of a hand), and hand over hand signing (where the deafblind person places hands over those of the person using NZSL, to follow what is being communicated through touch and movement). Deafblind people face significant barriers when accessing services or supports including education and health, and in being able to fully participate in society.
- Child of Deaf Adult (CODA): NZSL is the first language for some CODA, and Deaf culture can be an important part of CODA identity. CODA and other hearing family members can help bridge the gap between Deaf and hearing people. However, this can also lead to an expectation from some people (including family members) and service providers that CODA will communicate for Deaf family – even when a young child. Using CODA in this way is not appropriate.
- non-speaking people and people who have difficulty communicating: It is estimated that up to 10 percent of the population has some form of difficulty communicating. Teaching NZSL to non-speaking children ensures children learn a language during the key language learning years, providing a way to communicate.