Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the statement "International sign language is not a language" within the conceptual perception of lingua franca in plurilingual communication, explaining the linguistic importance of sign language, its inter-cultural associations and English as a lingua franca in plurilingualism. The paper shows that sign language is the result of cultural and cognitive needs of specific populations and that
creation of an international sign language is not a possibility because it implies the creation of universal culture.

Outline:
International Sign Language - Linguistic Understanding
Plurilingualism and Intercultural Understanding
English - The Lingua Franca 'Trap'
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Plurilingual communication is dependant on intercultural associations. This signified communication transverses and integrates plural approach to language and culture. The main purpose of plurilingual communication is to eliminate artificial language borders and encourage the inherent plurilingual repertoire most sign language users have. The singularity of creating an international sign language is impossible at the present, given the multiple world cultures present. Linguistic debates also point that an emergent international sign language will intermittently destroy global culture that has evolved in the last thousands of years.

"Sign language acts as a communicative mediation, carried out by a third person to facilitate communication between two people who are unable to communicate successfully. The language of mediation can be singular or require knowledge of two or more languages. Moreover, the meditative communication varies with participants; therefore, it is unreasonable to form a common pattern of interpretation, which further denunciates the task of creating an international sign language."

Sample of Sources Used:

• BREIDBACH, Stephan, 2003. Plurilingualism, Democratic Citizenship in Europe and the Role of English. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
• CHIRIKBA, Viacheslav A. 2008. The Problem of the Caucasian Sprachbund, ed. Pieter Puysken. Linguistic Areas to Areal Linguistics.
• LENZ, Peter and BERTHELE, Raphael. 2010. Assessment in Plurilingual and Intercultural Education. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
• STOKOE, William C. 1960. Sign language structure: An outline of the visual communication systems of the American deaf. Studies in linguistics: Occasional papers (No. 8). Buffalo: Dept. of Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Buffalo.
• TRIM, J., COSTE, D., NORTH, M.B., and SHEILS, M.J. 2001. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.

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