4. Schoolbooks and glossaries

In the 1960s, growing interest towards sign language called for new learning material, the band-aid solution being a pocketbook called “Sano se käsin” (“Say It with Hands”) with 300 signs. The emphasis was on using signs to support lip-reading, i.e. keyword sign. Today the method is referred to as sign supported speech (tukiviittomat). If signs were used more frequently, it was called “simultaneous signing”. The booklet also referred to the so-called actual and original sign languages.

The entry-level book “Alan viittoa” (“I Start Signing”) was published in 1978. Again, the sign language was divided into categories of sign supported speech, simultaneous signing, and original and actual sign language. Here the original sign language refers to a natural language, whereas the actual sign language is seen as a visual symbol system based on the original sign language with spoken language influence. However, the emphasis was again on simultaneous signing, i.e. signed speech. The book contains 561 signs. At that time, teaching was strongly connected with spoken language and the pupils learned mostly signed speech.

In the 1970s and 80s, sign language was introduced for wider hearing audiences with three TV-courses. In 1976, the Finnish national television TV1 broadcasted educational series “Kädet kertovat” (“Hands Tell”) of 14 five-minute episodes.

In 1977, TV1 broadcasted another four-episode series “Näissä merkeissä” (“With These Signs”). The planned language course changed into a more general introduction, as it turned out how little the public knew about Deaf culture. “Näissä merkeissä” taught the hearing signed Finnish.

In 1986, yet another sign language TV-course, the six-episode “Elävä kieli” (“The Living Language”), increased the public interest. The series was once again intended for hearing audiences, but unlike the earlier ones, it utilized recent research and therefore offered information also on syntax and grammar.

The beginning of sign language research in Finland in the 1980s produced new information on the Finnish Sign Language and its structures. According to studies, signed languages differ notably from spoken languages. New information caused a shift also in teaching methods.

The entry-level book for the hearing public “Viito elävästi” (“Sign vividly”) was published in 1981. The book strove to use recent research results, albeit they were still rather scarce. However, the attempt was to describe genuine sign language instead of signed speech. The book covers about 800 signs, carefully selected as commonly used, standardised and suitable eye-openers for beginners. Another 100 signs were described verbally. Later “Viito elävästi” had a sequel for intermediate studies, and both were translated into Swedish as “Levande teckenspråk 1 & 2”.

In the beginning of the 80s Deaf children got their own sign glossary. The folder “Lasten kuvasanat viittomin” (“Picture Boards with Signs for Children”) contained picture boards with signs and words and was intended for families, early childhood education, schools as well as rehabilitation. Folders had over 300 picture boards focusing on everyday life and surroundings.