# Bridging Worlds:The Case for Sign Language Integration in Duolingo.

Would it surprise you to know that Duolingo, a highly successful language learning app with a user base of 500 million worldwide registered users, has over 100 language courses on its platform, including the fictional "Klingon" and "High Valyrian" from Game of Thrones and Star Trek Universe, but currently has no courses on Sign Language (Daniel, 2023).

This essay explores the importance of Sign Language integration within the language learning platform Duolingo and expands on the integration toolkit made in response. Duolingo has a unique opportunity to facilitate Sign Language integration sustainably with its access to funding, resources, and a vast user base. This includes not only amplifying the voices of creators within the deaf community but also valuing their input and involvement in the integration process. While also covering the significance of British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) and proving how an integration toolkit can provide Duolingo with the opportunity to richen the education and implementation of Sign Language learning while exploring additional activist and accessible methods. It will also touch on theories of change used for responsible design for innovation, such as Emergent Strategies and Designing for the Pluriverse.

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Sign Language, a visual language that employs hand shapes, facial expressions, gestures, and body language, is fascinating to explore. It is primarily used by people who are deaf or have hearing impairments. There are over 300 different sign languages in the world, spoken by more than 72 million deaf or hard-of-hearing people worldwide (National Geographic, 2024). Each sign language, including the unique British Sign Language and American Sign Language, possesses its captivating vocabulary, structure, and grammar.

This essay and toolkit are dedicated to a transformative vision: integrating British Sign Language and American Sign Language into Duolingo. This decision is driven as Duolingo is mainly used in the United States, with 144,152,500 users living in the U.S., which amounts to 25.07% of the total Duolingo Users worldwide (Daniel, 2023) and the United Kingdom's recent implementation of a Sign Language GCSE. This presents an exciting opportunity for Duolingo to expand its reach and make a significant difference in the lives of millions.

It is important to note that there are over 60 Sign Languages recognised and used worldwide (Hunt, 2019),
each contains its own grammar and pronunciation rules and, at times, supports different dialects and accents; for example, the word "green" is usually signed differently in Bristol than in Newcastle (Sense, 2024).

Each Sign Language has its own rich linguistic and cultural heritage within its respective communities akin to spoken languages.

The objective of implementing British Sign Language and American Sign Language through Duolingo is deeply rooted in addressing the broader social issue of accessibility and inclusion for the deaf community and the opportunity for Duolingo to use its platform for change.

Recent initiatives have brought Sign Language into the spotlight, with increasing incorporation into mainstream media, such as TV shows and events. Notable instances, such as Justina Miles performing at the Super Bowl, highlighting the growing recognition of the importance of Sign Language in diverse contexts. In education, the introduction of sign language in Cumbrian primary schools and the creation of British Sign Language as a GCSE subject in England starting in September 2025, all signify a pivotal shift towards recognising Sign Language as a fundamental skill. Practical implementations, like the East Midlands Railway launching a new BSL service for deaf passengers, displays the tangible benefits of incorporating sign language into daily life. This momentum reassures us of the significance and impact of our initiative.

The recent legal recognition of British Sign Language further emphasises the urgency and significance of this initiative. Events such as the live use of BSL interpretation in the House of Lords mark significant milestones in promoting accessibility and inclusion, especially within political environments. The decision by The Simpsons to introduce a deaf voice character and incorporate sign language represents a historic move towards increased representation and inclusivity in popular media.

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Duolingo, established in 2009 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker, is a language learning application.
As mentioned previously, the platform accommodates 100 language courses.
Duolingos mission statement is to deliver a digitally personalised educational experience akin to that of a private tutor (Duolingo, 2024). As of January 2024, Duolingo was the most widely used language learning application globally, boasting over 16.2 million monthly downloads onto mobile devices (Ceci, 2024).

Figure 1: Leading language learning apps worldwide in January 2024 by downloads (Ceci, 2024).

At its core, Duolingo employs a gamified approach,
This approach incorporates bite-size lessons with game-like elements. Gamification tricks include points, treasure chests and "streaks" for continuous use. This separates the platform from the current language learning market alongside the traditionally serious language learning contexts to boost engagement and provide a unique, fun experience.

A systematic review of research on Duolingo conducted from 2012 to 2020 identified several studies that reported relatively high user satisfaction and enjoyment and positive perceptions of the app's effectiveness( Shortt, 2021).

Duolingo's success can be attributed to its mission to make language learning universally accessible.
They state, "Over 1.2 billion people are learning a language, and the majority are doing so to gain access to better opportunities. Unfortunately, learning a language is expensive and inaccessible to most. We created Duolingo so that everyone could have a chance. Free language education—no hidden fees, no premium content, just free" (Duolingo, 2024).

Duolingo does offer a Plus experience. However, it focuses on an ad‐free experience, the ability to download lessons for offline use, and other gamification features—nothing too drastic compared to the free version.

Duolingo, therefore, stands out from its competitors, Babbel and Rosetta Stone, who sit behind paywalls.

The platform currently does not support Sign Language learning, but this has not stopped its users from demanding it in forums, change.org petitions and most notably, a campaign titled "Give Duolingo A Hand" led by students from the School of Communication Arts Agatha O'Neill and Sarah Lisgo. Agatha and Sarah have produced posters and videos with the hashtag #GiveDuolingoAHand, asking viewers to join in the cause with hopes of getting Duolingo's attention.

Figure 2: Give Duolingo A Hand (O'Neill & Lisgo, 2022)

This campaign shows prior advocacy efforts for incorporating sign language into Duolingo's offerings, indicating a growing demand and support for this initiative.

Duolingo should use its resources to prioritise and push deeper inclusion and implement sign language learning. Rather than seeking domination within the market, in line with Duolingo's ethos of being universally accessible, it positions itself as a facilitator of change; this would also align with the principles of designing for the pluriverse. By embracing these strategies and collaboration, Duolingo has the potential to dismantle these barriers, making sign language learning accessible to all. This approach honours the principles of equity and fosters a more inclusive learning environment, amplifying the voices of the deaf community and promoting social change.

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Research conducted into the benefits of integrating Sign Language within Duolingo was done through the lens of three theories of change: Design Justice, Emergent Strategies, and Designing for the Pluriverse.
By applying these theoretical frameworks, understanding the process of integration became clearer.

The concept of Design Justice serves as a foundational principle within the research into Sign Language. The Design Justice Network founded Design Justice principles focusing on addressing the needs and experiences of marginalised communities, with the Sign Language community falling within this category. Principles include using "Design to sustain, heal, and empower our communities, as well as to seek liberation from exploitative and oppressive systems" (Design Justice Network, 2018). Duolingo's integration of sign language aligns with this principle as it uses the platform to create an opportunity to empower communities and fight against paid education. For instance, Duolingo offers free sign language courses, making education more accessible to the deaf community. Design Justice Network emphasises centring the voices of those directly impacted by the outcomes of the design process(Design Justice Network, 2018); following their framework, the toolkit stressed the importance of Duolingo connecting with public voices within the deaf community.

Furthermore, Adrienne Maree Brown's Emergent Strategies offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of change within preexisting complex systems.
Emergent Strategies principles emphasise adaptability, collaboration, and decentralised decision-making as catalysts for transformative change. Brown describes emergence as "critical connections over critical mass, building authentic relationships, listening with all the senses of the body and the mind" (Brown, 2021). When arguing on a social issue such as Sign Language, adapting Brown's mindset connects the importance of community change over the capitalist profit of Duolingo, thereby instilling optimism and motivation for the potential of transformative change.

Emergent Strategies and Designing for the Pluriverse values connect within the lens of how outcomes can take on numerous forms rather than a definitive response. Brown identifies this through properties of nature, particularly the Wavicle, suggesting that outcomes can evolve independently, each exploring different intermixing paths to all possible destinations. However, when collected, it appears definite and concrete (Brown, 2021). Akin to Designing for the Pluriverse by Arturo Escobar stresses the idea that a solution can be multiple and on different scales. Conducting change within this lens
leads to the most sustainable outcome: the power to dismantle oppressive systems and build a more just and diverse global community.

All theories of change collectively honour how localised efforts have led to broader change; this essay and toolkit argue Duolingo, to situate itself within the Sign Language space successfully, would need to honour and uplift the preexisting efforts done by the deaf community. This should be conducted through the Duolingo app and outreach, consisting of working with the community through sponsorship in the style of person groups and public figures.

My toolkit, titled "Sign Language within Duolingo: An Integration Toolkit", is a powerful resource that not only enriches education but also has the potential to transform the Duolingo platform. It focuses on the unique context of Duolingo, a language-learning app. It aims to promote sustainable resources that amplify the voices of creators within the deaf community and facilitate outreach efforts.

The Resources provide information, strategies, and design/campaign concepts for the ideal implementation, emphasising the importance of the education of Sign Language, as hearing loss affects 1 in 5 adults (RNID, 2024).

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The toolkit starts by providing context to what Sign Language and Duolingo are alongside the recent initiatives and legal recognitions that highlight the growing recognition of the importance of sign language in various contexts, including education and mainstream media. Advocacy efforts, emphasising again the 'Give Duolingo a Hand' campaign, to demonstrate demand and support for incorporating sign language into Duolingo's offerings.

The design concepts focus on integrating Sign Language learning as a seamless integration into the existing platform. The toolkit recognises and builds upon the groundwork laid by designers such as Siri Høystad, Agatha O'Neill, and Sarah Lisgo.

Figure 3: Design Concepts(Carter-Edwards, 2024)

Building upon community outreach and situating, the toolkit suggests Duolingo should actively collaborate with public deaf creators for advertising campaigns, ensuring authentic representation and fostering community engagement. Additionally, sponsoring in-person learning groups reinforces Duolingo's commitment to being universally accessible, linking this to supporting traditional education methods and strengthening ties within the deaf community.

The toolkit finishes on a proposed implementation timeline that suggests close collaboration with an inclusion team and user testing with both deaf and non-deaf learners to ensure the new integration meets diverse needs effectively. This is proven through the lens of Annie Jean-Baptiste's hiring as Director of Product Inclusion & Equity within Google.

The timeline has five stages: design, User Testing, Initial Rollout, Outreach, and Final Release. The initial rollout will focus on BSL and ASL courses, followed by outreach efforts within the deaf community and expansion to include more sign languages, such as Indo-Pakistani Sign Language.

Figure 4: Proposal of Campaign/Implementation timeline (Carter-Edwards, 2024)

The proposed strategy for Duolingo's implementation of Sign Language learning is collaborative, recognising the invaluable contributions of public deaf creators. It includes advertising campaigns and sponsorship of in-person learning groups to ensure authentic representation and foster community engagement.

Implementing this toolkit allows Duolingo to utilise its platform to enhance the education of Sign Language while uplifting the community and further facilitating outreach.

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In conclusion, the call for integrating Sign Language into Duolingo's platform reverberates with urgency and significance within our social landscape. This exploration has illuminated the pressing need for such integration, amplifying advocacy and highlighting Duolingo's pivotal role in effecting change through an intricate web of theories, from Design Justice to Emergent Strategies.
The proposed integration toolkit serves as a beacon, guiding Duolingo towards a future where Sign Language education is seamlessly woven into its platform. Collaboration with the deaf community is the milestone of this integration, ensuring authenticity and genuine sustainable representation.

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Brown, Adrienne M. and Brown, Adrienne Maree (2021) Emergent strategy: Shaping change, changing worlds. United States: AK Press.
Ceci, L. (2024) Top language learning apps by downloads 2024, Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1239522/top-language-learning-apps-downloads/ (Accessed: 27 March 2024).
Daniel, C. (2023) Duolingo users and Growth Statistics (2024), SignHouse. Available at: https://www.usesignhouse.com/blog/duolingo-stats (Accessed: 17 March 2024).
Design Justice Network (2018) Read the principles, Design Justice Network. Available at: https://designjustice.org/read-the-principles (Accessed: 10 April 2024).
Duolingo (2024) About Us- Mission, Duolingo. Available at: https://www.duolingo.com/info (Accessed: 27 March 2024).
Hunt, A. (2019) Sign languages around the World | Cultureready, Sign Languages Around the World. Available at: https://cultureready.org/blog/sign-languages-around-world (Accessed: 17 March 2024).
National Geographic (2024a) Sign language, Education. Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sign-language/ (Accessed: 10 April 2024).
National Geographic (2024b) Sign language, Education. Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sign-language/ (Accessed: 10 April 2024).
O’Neill, A. and Lisgo, S. (2022) Give Duolingo A Hand.
RNID (2024) National Hearing Loss Charity, RNID. Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/#:~:text=We%20are%20RNID,have%20hearing%20loss%20or%20tinnitus.&text=Hearing%20loss%20affects%201%20in%205%20adults. (Accessed: 20 March 2024).
Sense (2024) Sign language, Sense. Available at: https://www.sense.org.uk/information-and-advice/communication/sign-language/ (Accessed: 17 March 2024).