This country is developing its own sign language dictionary
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." ~ Mark Twain
The Indian government has embarked upon one such kind — and first-of-its-kind — project. A 12-member team put together by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is coming out with an Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary, the Indian Express reports.
SEE ALSO:9 Apps and Resources to Learn American Sign LanguageOver 6,000 English and Hindi words — of everyday usage, legal, medical, technical and academic terms — have already been compiled for the dictionary slated to release in March. Researchers have identified 44 hand-shapes used in India under which each of the 6,000 words would be classified.
The team from the government-backed Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is working on graphic representations of the most-used signs that vary from region to region given India's rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
ISLRTC was set up in 2015 to "help the five million deaf community of the country [and to] provide for increased accessibility for the hearing impaired in education, in the workplace and in all activities of public life."
This dictionary would serve as a record of the common parlance of the 5 million deaf and 2 million mute people (Census 2011) across the country, the report added. Unlike American Sign Language (ASL) and sign languages of European countries, ISL is yet to gain minority language status in the country.
However, the government is taking steps "for achieving empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities" as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 9th World Assembly of the Disabled People's International in New Delhi last year.
Presently, there exists a sign language portal, Talking Hands, that combines Indian, international and local sign languages to "maintain communicative environment between hearing and hearing-disabled people across the globe."
It is also available as an Android app and had 5,000 downloads on Google Play store.
Featured Video For You
Google Glass App Could Help Wearers Learn Sign Language
(责任编辑:产品中心)
- Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: The Fenix wins big on battery life
- Apple News wants to fight Facebook
- Read an exclusive excerpt of Jeff Zentner's upcoming 'Goodbye Days'
- Instagram's 'Hashtag Mindfulness' boom: The good, the bad, and the ugly
- 一针一线串起两代人的传承故事
- The OLED Burn
- This meme highlights some of the absolutely wild news stories that come out of Florida
- Uber admits it had safety issues in London, wins back license
- LeBron agrees two
- SCOTUS: The courts implementing Project 2025, without Trump.
- Tokyo Olympics exec arrested over bribery allegations
- People are sharing their best spill videos after one woman spilled 22 quarts of ranch dressing
- The Hirshhorn Eye is a museum smartphone guide that's actually cool
-
This photo, carried on Wednesday, shows the North test-firing a 240mm multiple rocket launcher with ...[详细]
-
Europe's 'biggest ever' LSD bust nets €4.5 million in cryptocurrency
Not cool. A combined task force of the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Austrian Federal Police, and Europ ...[详细] -
Belgian police issue alert about foldable gun that looks like a phone
Remember that handgun that folds up to look like a smartphone? Belgian police have reportedly issued ...[详细] -
Mural pays homage to Australian teen who egged Islamophobic politician
Not all heroes wear capes. But, some of them wield eggs as their weapon of choice.ICYMI, an Australi ...[详细] -
I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the shower — does the screen work when wet as claimed?
The Pixel 9 Pro XL came out swinging with an impressive set of features that threaten Samsung and Ap ...[详细] -
Everyone's joking about the 'old fashioned' ways they got into college
Everyone has a different experience applying to colleges.Some take the traditional route by working ...[详细] -
Kim calls for unity with China against 'hostile forces'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping / YonhapNorth Korean leader ...[详细] -
Is North Korea returning to brinkmanship?
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Joe Biden / Korea Times filePyongyang's missile t ...[详细] -
[Exclusive] Samsung unsure of Suga's future as brand ambassador: source
Suga of BTS (right) holds the first Galaxy Fold 5 with Roh Tae-moon, president of Samsung Electronic ...[详细] -
Ineos billionaire Ratcliffe 'potential buyer' of Man Utd
LONDON:British businessman Jim Ratcliffe is "definitely a potential buyer" of Manchester U ...[详细]
- 13 Unbelievable Underwater Wonders in Florida
- Man Utd agree to sign Real Madrid’s Casemiro
- ZTE allowed to resume some U.S. business by Commerce Department
- 与时间赛跑 汉源老县城进入大搬迁阶段
- Smiley face on Mars is a telltale sign of its past
- Lyft acquires Motivate, a bike
- Seongnam mayor's battle against government in spotlight