Towards Natural Sign Language Generation: Scalable and Fluid Sign Synthesis for Inclusive Communication

Aparna Agrawal Nitin

Abstract

Language is a rich, multilayered system through which humans articulate complex ideas, construct social understanding, and negotiate shared meaning. Yet, despite its central role in human interac- tion, much of the world’s linguistic diversity remains marginalized within mainstream communication technologies. Sign languages, primary communication systems for Deaf communities, illustrate this disparity most clearly, as they remain underrepresented in digital infrastructures despite their linguis- tic sophistication and societal importance. Consequently, large portions of informational and cultural content circulating in society remain effectively inaccessible to Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Live news broadcasts, emergency alerts, televised debates, classroom lectures, government proceed- ings, and a substantial portion of online video media are produced primarily for the hearing public. Live news broadcasts, emergency alerts, televised debates, classroom lectures, government proceedings, and a substantial portion of online video media are produced primarily for the hearing public.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 466 million people worldwide are deaf or hard of hearing, with around 72 million using sign language as their primary means of communication [58]. In India, a WHO news report estimates that 63 million people have “significant auditory impairment” [84].1 Sign language is a visually rich and complex mode of communication, incorporating spatial grammar, facial expressions, and contextual cues that are often unfamiliar to non- signers, making it challenging for them to learn and use it effectively.

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