This week, Monday 9th until Sunday 15th, is NZ Sign Language week. Sign Language is used by people who are profoundly deaf and other people who want to communicate with them. Since April 2006, NZ Sign Language has been an official language in NZ, along with English and Maori. Did you know that we have these three official languages?
NZ has about 20,000 profoundly deaf people who use the NZ Sign Language. It is different from American and British Sign Language although there are similarities. It is a visual language which uses hand shapes, facial expressions and body language. Perhaps you have seen a Sign Language interpreter on television when there is an important announcement. At the time of the earthquakes in Christchurch, NZ Sign Language interpreters often stood beside a person speaking on television to give the message to deaf people.
This week, some schools have been using NZ Sign Language in their classes.
Here is a YouTube video of our National Anthem in Maori, NZSL and English.
Here is a link to the NZSL online dictionary
Vocabulary
profoundly – deeply, severely; profoundly deaf defines someone who has no hearing or almost no hearing