This week is Sign Language Week. The Prime Minister launched the week on Monday on television, by giving a brief message in Sign Language. She signed, “My name is Jacinda Ardern. I’m the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Aotearoa.”
After that, an interpreter, Alan Wendt, stood alongside her and interpreted her talk in Sign so that deaf people could understand. The Prime Minister plans to do this every week so that deaf people are included in her information.
A number of Kiwi leaders have made videos in New Zealand Sign Language. They are on YouTube.
In Auckland, Fairfax Media are using deaf baristas in their café. Staff have to use Sign Language to order their coffee.
Listen to May 13 2016 and May 4th 2009 for more about New Zealand Sign Language.
Vocabulary
• launched – started a new idea or a new product
• baristas – people who are trained to make expresso coffee