Degree program

Here you will find important information about the content of the course “Interpreting: German Sign Language - German.”

German Sign Language/Deutsche Gebärdensprache (DGS)

Sign languages are visual-manual languages; in addition to hand signs, they consist of facial expressions and body language. Sign languages have a comprehensive vocabulary and their own grammar and are recognized as fully-fledged languages. 
Contrary to widespread assumptions, sign languages are not uniform internationally. Even within German Sign Language (DGS), there are linguistic variations due to dialects. DGS is the native language of almost all deaf people and some severely hard-of-hearing people in Germany.
German sign language differs greatly in some respects from the sign languages of other countries. 

DGS courses are a central component of the sign language interpreting degree program, as a high level of DGS proficiency is a prerequisite for this profession.

Interpreting

Sign language interpreters act as language mediators between hearing and deaf people. They translate spoken language and German Sign Language (DGS) bidirectionally in all areas of life, e.g., in education and training, in court and at the police station, in healthcare, at conferences, and in other areas of public life, thus enabling barrier-free communication. Barrier-free communication gives deaf people whose primary language is DGS equal opportunities to participate in society.
 
The course therefore includes practical exercises designed to prepare students for their future professional activities (interpreting between German and German Sign Language).