Macedonian Sign Language ( or ) is the
sign language
Sign languages (also known as signed languages) are languages that use the visual-manual modality to convey meaning, instead of spoken words. Sign languages are expressed through manual articulation in combination with #Non-manual elements, no ...
of the
deaf community
Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an audiological condition. In this context it is written ...
in
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...
.
As in all sign languages, Macedonian Sign Language is based on gestures and body movements, particularly movements with the hands. The precise number of signers in North Macedonia is not known, but 6,000 people request signed news on Macedonian television.
The learning and the usage of the language, as well as the rights of the deaf community in North Macedonia, are regulated by a national law.
Закон за употреба на знаковниот јазик, Службен весник на Република Македонија, број 105, 21 август 2009, Скопје
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Alphabet
The alphabet is made of 31 signs, which is equal to the 31 sounds of Macedonian. Each letter has its own sign. There are two types of the alphabet: the alphabet expressed with one hand and
alphabet expressed with two hands.
Regulation
Macedonian Sign language is regulated by a national law as of 21 August 2009. Macedonian law defines it as following:
However, the law includes several things, such as defining the language itself, defining the rights of the deaf people of North Macedonia, studying the language, preparing interpreters, defining the tasks of the National Association of Deaf People of North Macedonia and its financing, and securing implementation of the rights of the deaf people. Each individual is allowed to request a Sign language interpreter and the institution where such request has been made, or the individual itself, is obliged to find one.
References
External links
Macedonian sign alphabeton the site of NADPM.
National association of deaf people of North MacedoniaMTV launches news for the deaf peopleon North Macedonia.
Sign languages
Culture of North Macedonia
Languages of North Macedonia
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