Brazilian Sign Language
In addition to being recognized nationally since 2002,[7][8] Libras has also gained official status at the municipal and state levels in various regions, including Belo Horizonte,[9][10][11] Curitiba,[12][13] Ouro Preto,[14][15][16][17] Salvador,[18] Rondonia,[19] and Mato Grosso.
Huet, supported by the former Brazilian emperor Dom Pedro II, embarked on a mission to establish the first school for the deaf in Brazil.
Huet was part of a noble family in France and possessed a multilingual background, proficient in Portuguese, German, and French from an early age.
Serving as a beacon of reference for the country, INES catalyzed the formation of additional schools for the deaf and contributed to the consolidation of Libras.
[30] However, despite these advancements in sign language, a prevalent medical perspective persisted, leading to the institutionalization of deaf individuals in hopes of finding a cure.
[31][32] This medical model gained traction, particularly following the Milan Conference of 1880, where a resolution against the use of sign language in education was passed, favoring oralism.
It wasn't until 2002 that Libras gained legal recognition as a means of communication and expression, thanks to a law passed by Congress, marking a significant victory for the deaf community in Brazil.
Notably, its impact extends beyond advocacy, encompassing direct engagement in educational initiatives, cultural promotion, and social services.
[33] Additionally, FENEIS has a number of regional locations in Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Curitiba, Manaus, Caxias do Sul and Porto Alegre, further amplifying its reach and impact across Brazil.
[39] This method allows individuals to convey words for which there are no existing signs, enabling effective communication across a wide range of concepts and contexts.
Additionally, the SignBank enables users to explore regional variations of signs, offering a deeper understanding of the linguistic diversity within Libras.
[43] A master's in linguistics dissertation titled "A arte de escrever em Libras" by Gabriela Otaviani Barbosa found that SignWriting is used in 18 Federal Universities and in 12 public schools in Brazil.
Historical efforts were commonly transcribed using Portuguese words, written in upper case, to stand for each equivalent Libras morpheme.
[46]Transcription of Libras signs using SignWriting has been in place since at least 1997 with the SignNet Project in Porto Alegre and Fernando Capovilla's dictionaries in São Paulo.
[47] The Federal University of Santa Catarina has accepted a dissertation written in Brazilian Sign Language using Sutton SignWriting for a master's degree in linguistics.
The dissertation "A escrita de expressões não manuais gramaticais em sentenças da Libras pelo Sistema signwriting" by João Paulo Ampessan states that "the data indicate the need for [non-manual expressions] usage in writing sign language".
