THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE DEAF COMMUNITY: THE CASE OF SPANISH SIGN LANGUAGE (LSE) AND CATALAN SIGN LANGUAGE (LSC)

ABSTRACT

In this article we analyze some specific issues faced by deaf communities at the local, national, and international levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, by placing special emphasis on language policies and dissemination and communication policies for Spanish Sign Language (LSE) and Catalan Sign Language (LSC), taking the perspective of their respective communities. We propose a quality control system to assess specific communications and the use and handling of languages in crisis situations by applying a combination of four dimensions, known as the 4-A standard (Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, Adaptability). A description of the application of each dimension grounds the analyzed implications of their implementation for both languages, underlining the importance of multilingual and accessible communication in signed languages and a close collaboration between governments and deaf people's organizations to ensure their enjoyment of their linguistic rights and effective equality in accessing information and communication.