In an effort to enhance accessibility and ensure broader reach and understanding across India’s diverse linguistic landscape, the Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary prepared by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is now available in 10 regional languages.
At the same time, on Monday on the celebration of Sign Language Day 2024 here at an event, a senior official said that at least 2,500 new terms in Indian Sign Language was also launched, in collaboration between ISLRTC and various organizations such as YUNIKEE, India Signing Hands, Bridge Connectivity Solutions, and Anuprayaas.
The new terms added in the ISL cover a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, science, and higher education, as well as fields like sports and infrastructure, Secretary of the Disability Affairs Department Rajesh Aggarwal said.
On the occasion, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment BL Verma on Monday emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring the linguistic human rights of the hearing impaired across the nation.
Verma reiterated the need for national and local efforts to strengthen the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through the promotion of Indian Sign Language (ISL).
In addition, ISLRTC introduced 100 concept videos designed for hearing-impaired students of class 6. These videos, developed in collaboration with YUNIKEE, aim to improve concept clarity with a combination of ISL explanations, graphical imagery, and inclusive learning tools like subtitles and audio, he said .
Educational animated videos and Deaf Role Model videos were also launched to inspire and motivate hearing-impaired children.
The winners of the 7th Indian Sign Language Competition 2024, a national competition for students with hearing disabilities, were recognized and awarded during the event.
Sign Language Day, celebrated annually on September 23, aims to highlight the need to preserve and promote sign languages as an essential part of linguistic and cultural diversity.
