Linguistic Genocide against Development of Indigenous Signed Languages in Africa -

Linguistic Genocide against Development of Indigenous Signed Languages in Africa

Publication Date : 24/10/2025

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Author(s) :

EMMANUEL ASONYE , Mary Edward, Ezinne Emma-Asonye.

Volume/Issue :

Volume 1

Issue 1

(10 - 2025)

Abstract :

The UN 1948 Convention on Linguistic Genocide did not expressly consider the gradual but continuous suppression of minority languages and cultures by a superior one and/or the authorities, which has been the situation with, not just the spoken languages as has been emphasized in literature, but the signed languages in Africa. However, the Convention’s definition of ‘genocide’ includes “…destroying in whole or part, or of preventing preservation or development.” Significant number of African signed languages are said to have originated from American Sign Language ASL (Asonye, 2016), a few others have their bearing from British Sign Language BSL and French Sign language LSF (Nobutaka, 2004). Some of these African signed languages are still threatened or at least influenced by their foreign “parent languages” till this day. While the indigenous African signed languages are struggling to emerge, and develop, the undue influence of their foreign counterparts continue to suppress the languages, delude the users, learners and even teachers of the languages. Edward (2015a) and Asonye (2016), both have reiterated the gradual endangerment of signed languages used in Africa, which is claimed to be caused by contact with spoken languages, local laws, formal education, and other post-colonial ideologies. Thus, these signed languages are gradually being battered by social and educational policies. Apart from village sign languages, many African countries can also boast of national sign languages. This paper argues that the Africa’s deaf communities are rich in signed languages which are sustained by several socio-cultural factors including the obvious lack of linguists’ interest to study signed languages, and have been under the continued attack of the colonist languages and cultures considered superior because they are documented and largely studied, It also seeks to demonstrate patterns of the effects of linguistic genocide on signed languages in Africa and their users. Examples are drawn from the signed languages used in selected deaf communities in Nigeria and Ghana. A multidisciplinary approach was used in the data collection and analyses, which includes simple questionnaires and interviews from deaf individuals, deaf educators, and signed language instructors. A large corpus of indigenous signed language items were also collected from different deaf communities and were analyzed and findings show that these signed languages have developed unique structural features distinct from the ASL, Signed English or any other imposed signed language.