Excursus: Sign Language
Why is sign language translation so important?
Sign language is a visually perceptible form of communication primarily used by deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It is based on a combination of hand movements, facial expressions, silently formed lip movements, and changes in body posture. The interaction of these elements forms complete sentences and complex messages. Sign languages are independent, natural languages with the same expressive power and structure as spoken languages.
For more than 70 million deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide, sign language is their first language, while written language is often a foreign language. Just over 70% of deaf people are unable, or only partially able, to understand written texts in context, as written language is typically acquired through sound. With increasing digitalization, information in sign language is often lacking, significantly limiting digital participation for the deaf community.
Legal frameworks such as the EU Accessibility Act, the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) for the public sector, and, starting in 2025, the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) for digital products and services aim to improve this situation. Currently, sign language interpreters provide some support - but they are limited in availability, costly, and not well suited to the fast-paced nature of digital content.
The alangu AI-based translation tool for digital platform content helps to reduce digital barriers for people with hearing impairments, accelerate communication processes, and enable cost-effective communication.
