India to launch its first sign language dictionary in both print and video format

India is all set to get its very first sign language dictionary which is being developed by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC). A first-of-its-kind, the dictionary aims to bring uniformity in sign languages.

India is all set to get its very first sign language dictionary which is being developed by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC). A first-of-its-kind, the dictionary aims to bring uniformity in sign languages used by hearing and speech impaired people across the nation.

Features of the dictionary: 

• So far 6,032 Hindi and English words have been compiled, and the dictionary also contains the corresponding graphic representation of the signs which are used in daily life

• The dictionary is being developed in both print and video format

• Around 50 lakh hearing impaired people and 20 lakh speech impaired people in the country will get an uniform language

• The dictionary will include about 6,000 words in English and Hindi, including everyday, legal, medical, technical and academic terms

• Each word will be represented by an illustration and video.

At the inauguration of a two-day national conference titled 'Empowering Deaf through Indian Sign Language', Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said, "A comprehensive Indian Sign Language Dictionary is the need of the hour to facilitate communication between the hearing and speech impaired and create a basic database for further policy making.''

"Presently, the sign languages in a diverse country like India vary from region to region. Because of this, people from a region face difficulty in communicating with those in the other region," he said. This dictionary will help bridge the communication gap, Gehlot said.

Awanish K Awasthi, the joint secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said, "It will contain graphic representations of popular signs used by the hearing impaired and will also include regional variations. Apart from that, it will have legal, technical and medical terms.''

Source | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/sign-language-dictionary/1/908965.html

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