Workshop to review sign languages

 By SONIA KENU 

CALLAN Services National Unit started its second Melanesian sign language development workshop yesterday to review sign languages currently in use. 

The workshop is being held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Port Moresby with 30 teachers and consultants from the Callan Special Education Resource Centre participating. 

National hearing project coordinator Michael Lulu said the workshop aimed to develop new signs for words such as carbon dioxide, chapel and others which were not included in the sign language book used 

today. 

“Currently, there are about 3,000 words only in the sign language book. Realistically there are more words than that,” he said.  

“Among the participants is a panel of hearing impaired adults who would decide the best sign language to use after teachers from each province present the different signs they use for words such as carbon dioxide, and chapel including others.  

“A similar workshop was held last October. This year the project is funded by Austria’s Christoffel Development Corporation’s ‘Light for the world project’.  

“I appeal to key players in the government, the education department, stakeholders and non-governmental organisations to support us. 

Melanesian sign language project coordinator James Knox said the new emphasis is to start teaching sign language to children at five years and under. 

“Start teaching at an early age will help the child build his/her literacy skills as he/she grows. Many today tend to omit words when writing,” he said.