German Sign Language (DGS)

German Sign Language (DGS) is the natural language of many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Germany. It is a fully developed, independent language that uses:

• Visual signs
• Hand movements
• Facial expressions
• Body language

DGS has its own grammar and structure, different from spoken or written German. It is not a simple translation of German words into signs but a complete language with its own logic.

In 2002, DGS was officially recognized by the German Disability Equality Act (BGG). Since then, Deaf individuals in Germany have the legal right to use DGS when communicating with public authorities.

Key aspects:

• Used in Deaf communities, families, education, and interpretation
• Enables equal participation and inclusion
• Integral part of Deaf culture and identity

Professional sign language interpreters help bridge communication between DGS users and non-signing individuals in public services, media, healthcare, and courts.

DGS has its own grammar and is not simply “German with the hands”. Handshape, hand position, movement and location combine with facial expression and mouth patterns to carry meaning. Statements are built spatially: people or places are given a fixed spot in the signing space, which is referred back to later. As a result, sentence structure differs clearly from spoken language.

Since 2002, DGS has been recognised as an independent language in the German Disability Equality Act. For many deaf people it is the first language, while written German is a foreign one. Text-only offers are therefore often not enough: important information should also be available as a video in DGS, for example the summary of the website, the accessibility statement or notes on applications.

Anyone embedding such videos should pay attention to quality: the interpreter must be clearly visible, the background calm, and the video should come with subtitles or a transcript. Plan the content together with deaf specialists, because only then do the signs look natural and are actually understood by the target group.

If you build a website for deaf audiences, you should also check whether contact options such as chat, email or a text form are offered, because phone numbers alone exclude many people. Short, well-structured texts help as well, since they are easier to read for people whose first language is DGS.

In short: German Sign Language (DGS): Meaning & Importance.