Suomenruotsalaiset viittomakieliset selkokielen kohderyhmänä

This article concerns a simplified form of Finland-Swedish Sign Language that the community uses when a person needs an easier version of signing. Based on interviews with sign language interpreters and field observations, this article describes the possible reasons behind this need for simplification and what the common changes in the signing are when it is simplified. This article states that both the reasons and the ways of simplifying are similar to what has been described in studies on other signed languages: for example, the signing becomes slower and more visual, and the sentences should be kept short. The reasons for using Easy Sign Language are similar to the reasons for using Easy Language for hearing people: there is a physiological, psychological, neurological, or neuropsychiatric reason – either short-term or permanent – why the person requires more time to process the message. The interviewed interpreters give some concrete examples of how to recognize the need for Easy Sign Language and tactics for signing in a simplified, easier manner.