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IDGS
Institute of
German Sign Language and
Communication of the Deaf

Photo: UHH, IDGS, Goldschmidt

Institute History

1981
Foundation of the „Research Centre: German Sign Language“ as part of the German Language and Literature department of the  University of Hamburg.

1987
Opening of the Centre for German Sign Language and Communication of the Deaf at Rothenbaumchaussee 45, Hamburg, on May 11th of 1987

1992
Initiation of the degree program „Sign Languages“ in October as part of a pilot project.

1993
Initiation of the degree program „Sign Language Interpreting“ in October as part of the same pilot project. The Centre receives two professorships which are accepted by Prof. Dr. Renate Fischer and Prof. Dr. Siegmund Prillwitz.

1994
Move to the facilities in Binderstraße.

1996
The Centre achieves its status as a separate institute in the Department of Linguistics.

1997
The Centre celebrates its 10 year anniversary and in summer changes its name to Institute of German Sign Language.

2005
Prof. Dr. Siegmund Prillwitz retires.

2005/06
The Magister degree program „Sign Languages“ is converted into the BA/MA system.

2008
In April, Prof. Dr. Christian Rathmann accepts professorship at IDGS as Prof. Dr. Siegmund Prillwitz’ successor.

2008/09
The Diplom degree program „Sign Language Interpreting“ is converted into the BA/MA system.

2012
The Institute of German Sign Language celebrates its 25 year anniversary on March 30th/31st of 2012.

2015Prof. Dr. Renate Fischer retires.

2018
Prof. Dr. Annika Herrmann becomes the chair of the Institute of German Sign Language.

2018
The Institute of German Sign Language moves to the new location Gorch-Fock-Wall 7.

2019
The international conference Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR) 13 takes place at the University of Hamburg

2023
Prof. Dr. Liona Paulus is appointed professor of sign language interpreting and sign languages at the IDGS