Sign language: ‘I feel included’
For many people in the Deaf community, the coronavirus pandemic was the most they had ever seen their language on television.
But it has meant more than simply accessing information – it includes the Deaf community in conversations.
Interpreters for New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), one of the country’s official languages, pop up whenever there is a crisis or emergency, such as the Canterbury earthquakes or the Christchurch shootings.
But during alert level 4 lockdown, it was every day.
Wellington Deaf community member Joanne Becker said they did not often see other Deaf people every day.
‘‘We can’t necessarily access our language on a regular everyday basis, so that was one constant thing we could rely on during that time,’’ she said.
‘‘It was a stressful time and seeing them every day was quite soothing and it reduced anxiety, and we could feel better about what was happening.’’
Deaf Aotearoa executive board member Jake LaBerg said it was critical the Deaf community received information at the same time as the rest of the country, particularly during a crisis.
But it had also allowed him to participate in conversations where he previously could not.
‘‘From being able to watch the interpreter on TV, particularly relating to politics, it gives me a greater idea of the concepts of what they are talking about,’’ he said. ‘‘And then when I go to another situation, for example at work ... I can actually participate in that and I feel included.
‘‘It has a far more positive impact than just accessing the information, it is also my participation in society.’’
Deaf Aotearoa executive assistant Erica Dawson said she had not been interested in politics before press briefings included a NZSL interpretation.
‘‘Then when they started bringing an interpreter along to the post Cabinet briefings on Mondays, it gave me access and it kind of surprised me and shocked me.’’
She said it was important political parties made their information available in NZSL, particularly in the lead-up to the election.
Deaf Aotearoa general manager Victoria Manning said people were often surprised when they found out New Zealand Sign Language was a language in its own right. ‘‘It is not English in sign language, it does
not follow English word order.’’
So it was not enough to provide captions or simply direct the Deaf community to a website.
‘‘If you put that information into English, it will be like a second language to some Deaf people,’’ Manning said.
Sign Language was also not international and NZSL was unique to Aotearoa.
Deaf Aotearoa was an organisation that represented the New Zealand Deaf community, and advocated for NZSL to be more widely accessible and respected.
About 20,000 Kiwis could hold a
conversation in NZSL and it was the first or preferred language for 4500 people.
This year, NZSL week (September 21-27) coincided with the International Week of the Deaf.
The United Nations International Day of Sign Languages is on Wednesday, September 23.
Deaf Aotearoa has a number of initiatives to celebrate the language.
For the first time, the political leaders debate will be interpreted live into NZSL, with one interpreter for each of the three speakers (Jacinda Ardern, Judith Collins and the moderator).
Deaf Aotearoa has also partnered with TVNZ to produce a series of adverts with NZSL in the corner, to be broadcast throughout the week.
And for the second year, the Garage Project will roll out a new beer in collaboration with one of its Deaf employees.
The NZSL Challenge, in which government and business leaders learn and film a short video in sign language, is back this year, to be kicked off by Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
Deaf Aotearoa is also working with the Ministry of Education to provide a new online resource for school children, to support the learning of introductory NZSL in the classroom.