Romanian Sign Language (RSL) is an essential means of communication, as it is the mother tongue of deaf and hearing-impaired people as well as hearing children of hearing-impaired parents.
It is a complete language with its own grammar and rules, different from spoken languages.

Over the years, RSL has evolved and continues to evolve to respond to the needs of the deaf community, thus contributing to a strong cultural identity. However, its recognition and integration into society have been continuous challenges.

Romanian sign language is not only a means of communication, but also a symbol of the identity and resilience of the deaf community.

What is Romanian sign language?
Sign language was officially recognized in 2020, by Law 27/2020. It states that deaf people have the right to use RSL to access public services, education, health and justice.Romanian sign language is therefore the natural language and mother tongue of the deaf community in Romania. Unlike spoken language, which uses sounds, RSL relies on visual gestures and facial expressions to communicate.

RSL is not a translation or an adaptation of Romanian, but a visual-spatial language that uses hand movements, facial expressions, body positions and spatial orientation to convey information. It offers a unique and complex way to express thoughts, emotions and ideas through hand movements, facial expressions and body posture. It is a language in its own right, with its own grammar, vocabulary and rules.

Although sign language may seem universal, each country has its own version, adapted to local culture and traditions. So RSL is different from other sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL) or French Sign Language (LSF).

The history of Romanian sign language
The history of Romanian sign language (RSL) is closely linked to the development of education for the hearing impaired in Romania. Although sign languages have developed naturally in deaf communities around the world, in Romania this process has been influenced by the social, cultural and educational context of the country.

The first forms of formal education for deaf people in Romania appeared in the mid-19th century. In 1863, the first school for the deaf was founded in Bucharest – this was an important milestone in the standardization of communication among the deaf, and the use of sign language began to be encouraged within this community.

In the early days of deaf education, they were inspired by methods used in other countries, such as France and Germany, where sign languages were already well developed. However, RSL has evolved independently, retaining distinct cultural and linguistic features.

Key features of RSL include:

• Visual grammar => Word order and sentence structure are specific and different from spoken Romanian, with their own rules. Sign language has a unique grammar that is different from languages spoken in the same region. Word order, tense, aspect and other grammatical elements are specific.
• Iconicity => Some signs are intuitive and visually reflect the meaning of the word, resembling the objects or actions they represent (e.g. the sign for ‘to eat’ imitates the gesture of putting food to the mouth). However, most signs are arbitrary and have no obvious visual connection to their meaning.
• The expressive dimension => Facial expressions play a crucial role in clarifying the meaning or tone of the message, they are used to express emotions or indicate sentence structure (questions, statements, etc.)

Sign Language in Europe
Each European country has its own sign language, which evolves according to the local culture and community. For example, British Sign Language (BSL) is different from French Sign Language (LSF) and Romanian Sign Language (RSL), even though they all serve the same communication purpose.

Some of the factors that contribute to the diversity of sign languages include historical, regional and social influences. In addition, sign language is often associated with the cultural identity of deaf communities.

Sign language is a fascinating subject and learning more about it can bring significant benefits for both deaf people and society as a whole. In Europe, there are many organizations fighting for the rights of deaf people and promoting sign language. For example, the European Union of the Deaf is a key organization supporting initiatives related to the education and integration of deaf people.

There are no reliable statistics on the number of sign language users but only a survey carried out in 2001 which showed that approximately 900,000 deaf citizens in the European Union use sign language, as the estimates did not include people who use sign language as a second or third language.
The importance of using and recognizing sign language

Sign language is essential for effective communication and integration of deaf people into society. It provides a way to express thoughts, emotions and ideas, facilitating social interaction and developing relationships. The importance of sign language extends beyond simple communication; it is a fundamental element of deaf cultural identity and community.

By using sign language, deaf people can access education, as well as health services and other aspects of social life, contributing to a more independent and active life. In addition, recognizing sign language as an official language in different countries helps to promote language rights and combat discrimination.