The name “FONTS” is an abbreviation for “Association for Norwegian Sign Language (NTS)”.

FONTS is an idealistic association that works for the recognition of NTS as an official language in Norway. The recognition should primarily be based on minority rights, not on rights for the disabled. Thus FONTS has its focus on the cultural-linguistic acknowledgement of NTS as a language. 

FONTS has five main goals:

-         to work for the recognition of NTS as part of the Norwegian cultural heritage

-         to spread more information about NTS in Norway and to contribute to an increased interest in NTS as a language

-         to contribute to increased use of NTS

-         to stimulate research on and documentation of NTS

-         to create meeting points for language users of NTS

FONTS works independently of hearing status and includes members with all kinds of knowledge and levels of skill in NTS.

FONTS was established in summer of 2006 as a reaction on the recent focus on NTS as a dying language due to the development and use of Cochlea Implant (CI).

The members of FONTS believe that it is possible to combine the development and use of CI with a language policy that will prevent NTS from vanishing. With a basis of several thousand native signers in Norway, an established system for interpreting and the opportunity for NTS as a school language for native signers, there should be no reason why this language should cease to exist – except for the low status of NTS that leads to a pressure on native signers not to pass on their language to their children. 

A higher status of NTS as one of the genuine Norwegian languages could solve this problem, while at the same time CI will contribute to give deaf children some level of hearing.

Our activities have so far been two-folded:

-         political work for the recognition of NTS as part of the Norwegian cultural heritage among Norwegians in general and language politicians in particular. Our main focus has been on starting a debate in the media and giving information through lectures. In summer 2008, the Norwegian government proposed a higher status of NTS. The proposal is currently in considerations by the Norwegian parliament.

-         language documentation: e.g., a workshop on NTS dialect-signs was arranged in fall 2008.

You can contact FONTS by e-mail: postmaster [att] norsktegnspraak.no