Bilingualism

In 1981 the Swedish Sign Language was acknowledged as a language of its own and as the first language of the deaf in Sweden.

 

According to a complement to the curriculum for compulsory school in 1983 the Swedish Sign Language should be a subject of its own and the educational language in Swedish schools for the deaf. The Swedish language is regarded as the second language of the deaf.

 

According to the curriculum for compulsory school in 1994 deaf pupils should learn to use the Swedish language as a complement to the Swedish Sign Language. The sign language is of fundamental importance for the linguistic development of deaf pupils and their development of personality and thinking.