Breaking the barrier of sign language through video in Nagpur
Similar videos are being collected from institutions across the country for the study.
Nagpur: Somehow one can get lost in translation, even when communicating in sign language. Since sign languages also differ from place to place, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has taken up the exercise of bringing a common ‘vocabulary’ for all. And experts from the School of Deaf and Dumb in the city’s Shankar Nagar also participated in the exercise. He has recently submitted a 4,000-word prompt in video format.
Similar videos are being collected from institutions across the country for the study which is the most common signs and signs for particular words or phrases, On the basis of which a common language will be prepared.
“I was part of the exercise along with some of my colleagues. About a month ago, videos of 4,000 words were sent,” says Meenal Sangole, principal of the School for the Deaf and Dumb.
Meenal Sangole, who holds a doctorate, says that like any other tongue, Sign language also varies from place to place. There are variations even from city to city, let alone state to state. “When some students come to us for a short stay, Then we also find it very difficult in the beginning to understand what these students coming from other districts want to say,” she says.
Based on the videos received from across the country
People with speech and hearing disabilities are also taught alphabet in sign language so that they can understand the spelling of each word. However, if the words are too long, there is a specific sign for the word or phrase, Meenal Sangole said.
There are also many words that do not have any special symbols at all, and each region has its own symbols for such words. These are mainly abstract words. And also for example, ‘mamta’ is a common word in many Indian languages for maternal love. But the signs keep changing from place to place. So is the case with history.
In Maharashtra it is a similar gesture to the Maratha king Shivaji then in some places it is a sword. He has also said that even words like ‘reconciliation’ or ‘responsibility’ have very different connotations around the world.
Based on the videos received from across the country, including Shankar Nagar School, a study will be conducted to find common signals. And Meenal Sangole also says, the results will then be used to come up with a common, uniform language for the nation.
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