The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Dictionary of technical sign language released

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Dictionary of technical sign language released

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, AUG. 10. The International Human Resource Development Centre for the Disabled (IHRDC) has released a comprehensive technical sign language dictionary to help special educators share their expertise and train the hearing impaired without any communication barrier.

According to the IHRDC director, M.N.G. Mani, the dictionary contains 730 technical words useful to students of polytechnics, computer science and Industrial Training Institutes. The words are categorised into 12 units, which include tools, equipment and parts, machines and mechanical operations, automobiles, electrical and electronics, civil engineering, costume designing and computer science.

The dictionary is co-authored by G. Amaresh, head of training programmes, IHRDC, and illustrated by V. Gopalakrishnan, course co-ordinator, Sign Language Department.

Drawings for each word

"The dictionary contains drawings for each word accompanied by a short description of how the signs should be done. After getting feedback from technical training institutes which are handling hearing impaired students, the final document will be circulated and a CD will supplement this," he said.

G.B. Jaiprakash Narain, director, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Chennai, told The Hindu that the institute was training teachers of polytechnics and engineering colleges. Besides in Chennai, there were three institutions in Bhopal, Chandigarh and Kolkata.

With the launch of the Persons With Disability (PWD) scheme by the Government of India, 15 polytechnics, including 9 in south India, were identified for implementation. In Coimbatore, the Government Polytechnic College for Women was selected. It offered two diploma programmes. About 25 disabled students were assisted by the Government of India for formal programmes and 100 were admitted to the non-formal programmes.

Students for the non-formal courses were identified irrespective of age and sex. They were trained in tailoring, making bakery products, mechanics, screen printing, desktop publishing, embroidery and typewriting.

They were grouped based on the severity of their disability and trained. Need-based training was imparted and extension centres were also established.

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