Perception of Difficulty Changes in Sign Language: The Influence of Middle School Students' Sign Language Cognition and Basic Linguistic Knowledge

This study examines changes in secondary school students' perception of the difficulty of Chinese Sign Language (CSL), and analyzes the suggestions proposed by participants. Through a questionnaire survey, data on sign language awareness were collected from 184 secondary school students. The results indicate that although most students had been exposed to sign language through online platforms, public welfare activities, and other channels, their perception of its difficulty shifted noticeably after exposure to basic sign language linguistics. Notably, students commonly reported that their unfamiliarity with sign language stemmed primarily from a lack of formal learning platforms.