Seminar on Pakistan Sign Language

Reported by
M. Akram
meatkhi@yahoo.com

Pakistan Associaton of the Deaf (PAD) and IUCN (the conservative union) jointly, arranged a 2 days seminar on 8-9 March in Karachi, Pakistan. . The aim of seminar was to standaradise the sign language, and introduce more signs related to environmental terms, like Energy-Conserving, fuel-efficient vehicle, Garbage disposal, hydel power, low-waste technology, natural capital, natural resources conservation, pest control, plantation, Pollution, Industrial pollution, vehicular emissions and lot more.

Many participants all around the country attend this seminar, and the signs were accepted by voting.

This was 2nd national seminar on sign language, arranged by us, our purpose is to standaradize the existing signs and introduce more signs to enrich Pakistan Sign Langauge, besides this we at PAD trying to provide more and more publication in sign language so the our deaf community learn more easily in our own language (Sign Langauge), so far there are not many books in sign language but we are hopefull with the help of nation wide orginzations of the deaf we will standardize, and enrich PSL and soon there will be more reading material in sign language.

This 2 days seminar give us opportunity to meet nation wide deaf representatives and learn from each other. All participants were happy joining this even some of them suggest that we should arrange similar seminar in other area of country so those who can not bear travling expense, also can participate in such seminars in the area near by them.

I suggest that we should have a web site where PAD should puts sign language research committee work (signs), and let other vote for the sign from their home using PC, this will help a lot as more people can participate in standardizing the PSL and we will have more opinion.

Now the environmental terms sketches are in process once they get done,  PAD and IUCN jointly publish a CD containing enviromental and other common standard sign, the aim of this CD is to provide easy reference and learning tool, so Teachers, Parents, and relative of the Deaf who can not join regular sign language classes can learn PSL at their home and at own selective time.

This 2nd National Seminar on Sign Langauge was a 2nd step to promote Sign Langauge in the country, and we will continue and hope one day PSL will be accepted as Language of the Deaf, and none will deny the right of deaf - use of their own Language.