‘Pretty Words on a Page’: Disappointment in Sign Language Laws in Ireland, Finland and the UK

Abstract

Sign language laws, or laws which in some way provide recognition to signed languages have been an en vogue trend in recent years across the world. Such laws have come into force in many countries, including Finland, Ireland and in the UK. Often such laws are met with great fanfare about how they will improve the lives of Deaf people living under the new laws. There are often celebrations among the Deaf community, who may have spent years advocating and lobbying for such laws. However, it is important to investigate to what extent these laws, after their passing, have indeed impacted the lives of the Deaf people whom they purport to serve. The research presented in this paper investigated how Deaf people in Finland, Ireland and the UK felt about their respective sign language laws, and how those laws impacted Deaf people. Through interviews in each jurisdiction, the paper shows disappointment from the Deaf communities ranging from initial optimism about the law turning to disappointment, the lack of rights flowing from the law, and the tokenism in the laws, in that they were merely ‘pretty words on a page’.