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<DIV><FONT size=2>Val:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>>Thanks for this message about the camp on Polish Sign Language and
SignWriting (that took place in Slovakia....is that correct)? smile...ha! I got
confused because it was held in Slovakia, so I thought you were writing
Slovakian signs...my mistake!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You're right, we were learning and writing Polish signs in
Slovakia (because Slovakia is cheap :-))</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>>No rush at all writing the naturally-evolved signed languages of Deaf
people in some parts of Slovakia (grin) ...if the education establishments in
Slovakia have not acknowledged signed languages as real languages, then those
who DO use a signed language probably use it in private in small groups. Maybe
someday you will bump into some of them...you never know. Once a linguist told
me that all cultures have naturally-evolved signed languages, although in many
cultures, the hearing world is not aware of them...or they choose to ignore them
officially...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Ha! The interesting thing is that sign language is officially
recognized by the Slovakian government. There is an act on a sign language.
The question is: is the act on a natural sign language used in Slovakia or just
on the Signed Slovak or just on sign language in general? I remember Stepanka
translated an act on sign language into Polish but I don't remember if that was
a Czech or a Slovak act.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Honza:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>>What I know is there are almost no interpreters and sign language is
not <BR>used in schools and I think (I am not sure now) there is still no law
<BR>about using Sign Language..</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You mean no sign language is used in Slovak schools for the
Deaf? Icredible. There is only one school for the Deaf in Poland (in Krakow),
where the teachers do not sign at all but in all other schools they use Signed
Polish. I know that Signed Polish is not the language of the Deaf but at least
such signs are used in schools. So, is there oralism in Slovakia yet? Hard to
believe :-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Lucy</FONT></DIV>
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