Signs of positive change: SA’s first sign language book is launched
Not all languages require words, become a Talk Sign ambassador today.
IN an effort to bridge the gap between the hearing and the deaf, the 2018 Talk Sign campaign released its first South African sign language book recently.
Keynote speaker, Nayantra Kanaye, co-ordinator of the Deaf Programme in the Department of IT at DUT, shared how difficult it was to bring up two deaf children many years ago, when teaching sign language was still frowned upon.
She also explained why the launch of the first-ever Talk Sign 1 Sign Language Phrase Book was so vital to bridging the gap between the deaf and the hearing.
Guests enjoyed a buffet breakfast and were taught the five sign language phrases that have been highlighted for the new campaign.
Gugu Ntini, who is deaf and also appeared in the Talk Sign 1 book, performed a poem in sign language.
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Lloyd Paul, a Talk Sign ambassador for the past five years, entertained guests with an upbeat rap song.
“Talk Sign’s mission is to create awareness among the South African hearing community, which will make them sensitive to the needs of the deaf and hearing impaired. This would promote Sign Language that, in turn, enables two-way communication.
“The long-term plan is to fully integrate the deaf community into schools, social and competitive sports, the workplace and all aspects of life. In a nutshell, the Talk Sign campaign aims to have South African Sign Language (SASL) approved as South Africa’s 12th official language,” said the president of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, Justice Zak Yacoob.
Alice Leah, of the A-List, thanked Ashok Sewnarain for sponsoring the venue and breakfast at The Pavilion Hotel and Anna Kelly of Chateau Gateaux for gifting each guest with a coffee and cake-for-two voucher.
Talk Sign Day is on Friday, 9 March.
Stickers are R10 each. E-mail alice@thealist.co.za to order stickers or the book.
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