At the public lecture “The Importance of Language of the Deafblind ,” Professor Marko Stabej, PhD, a full professor at the Faculty of Arts, presented what language is and how it develops.
Dr. Simona Gerenčer, Secretary General of the Deafblind Association Slovenia DLAN, first shared several reflections on the language of deafblind people and her personal experience of being without a voice for half a year.
She emphasized the importance of language for every individual and every community.
Professor Stabej presented the history of the Slovenian language and explained that language is the result of regular use, writing, and transmission within a community.
The same applies to the language of deafblind people: different modes of communication within the community form a living and evolving language. Linguistic diversity is not an obstacle, but rather an opportunity for inclusion and understanding.
Slovenia is the first country in the world to have enshrined the language of the deafblind in the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia and to have adopted a dedicated Act on the Use of the Language of the Deafblind.
Both achievements are the result of the efforts of representatives of the Deafblind Association Slovenia DLAN and represent an important step toward the recognition, development, and support of the language of deafblind people, as well as the equal inclusion of users in society.
We sincerely thank Professor Marko Stabej, PhD, for delivering the lecture and for his valuable contribution through many years of cooperation.
Ljubljana, 9. 12. 2025
