MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Municipality is serious about the pursuit of universal access to accommodate person with disability.
The National Assembly gave its approval to make South African Sign Language official on 2 May.
This was done to promote the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
In 2022, the municipality secured the services of a sign language interpreter, Ronel Maree, to assist at municipal council meetings, specifically, to accommodate the hearing impaired.
This also gives expression to the municipality’s GROW strategy, specifically growing governance.
Maree says: “My sister and I had a special bond. We used finger spelling with each other.
"For many years I used finger spelling to avoid talking, much to my parents' frustration.
"I also had a hearing-impaired friend who could only communicate with me through lip reading, although only 30% of lip reading is accurate.
"I also encouraged my three sons to use sign language from a young age to do ‘baby signing’,” Ronel explains.
"I’ve had a passion for sign language since I was six years old. It all began during a school visit, when sign language alphabet cards were handed out.
"I was in awe of the interpreter. That same afternoon I told my mom I would like to join ‘that school where they talk with their hands’.”
She has been working as a sign language interpreter since 1997.
How did this start?
I enrolled in a basic sign language course, just to confirm my passion for the language.
Thereafter, I completed Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 in sign language at the KZN Sign Language Academy.
I was privileged to participate in the South African Sign Language Interpreting programme at UNISA, where I completed my interpreting course.
Are there different types of sign language and interpreters?
SASL is the abbreviation for South African Sign Language.
It is one of more than 300 sign languages in the world. About four million deaf and hard-of-hearing people in South Africa make use of sign language.
SASL is the primary language used by the deaf community in South Africa.
Due to the geographical spread of its users and past educational policies, there are 14 recognised dialects of SASL.
Unlike in spoken languages, where grammar is expressed through sound-based signifiers for tense, aspect, mood and syntax, sign languages use hand movements, sign order, as well as body and facial cues to create grammar.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to communication, nor is there a “typical” deaf person.
There are different types of interpretation, SASL, dabbling interpreting, tactile, tracking, haptic, tadoma, and the use of two-hand alphabet mostly used by elderly people.
What is the scope of your work?
To render the message faithfully, always conveying the content, intent and spirit of the speaker, using the language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they serve, to engage and endeavour in professional development and maintain ethical business practices and high professional standards in compliance with this Code of Ethics.
What are the challenges?
When speakers use a soft tone of voice or switch to indigenous languages, poor lighting and a lack of a full view of the entire audience.
What is your greatest job satisfaction?
Being able to include the deaf community in having a right to participate in all areas of life and interpreting the lyrics of songs through creative signing.
What type of interpreting is particularly difficult?
Having to interpret a budget speech, for example, can take a lot more concentration and can be challenging when you don’t have a co-interpreter.
How do you retain your stamina during long court cases, for example?
To work with a co-interpreter is the ideal scenario, as an interpreter is due for a break after 20 minutes.
During a court case or a conference, this would usually be standard practice.
To maintain my stamina, I am prepared, focused and conform to an interpreting mode.
How do you feel about sign language’s new status in terms of its official use?
The "fake" interpreter at President Mandela’s funeral resulted in greater awareness and also brought to light the necessity to have trained sign language interpreters. It was a long and tedious road for the language to be recognised at the 12th official language of South Africa.
Why would you encourage people to learn sign language?
Definitely. There is a great need in the market for interpreters, especially deaf-blind interpreters. There are also many benefits, such as travelling and the opportunity to meet people of different cultures.
Anything else you would like to add?
SASL is a fully-fledged language that belongs to the BANZL family tree of sign language, which originated from the old British sign language, BSL.
South African sign language shows the influence of American sign language (ASL) and BSL.
It is based on visual cues, eyes, face and body.
The gestures and symbols in sign language are organised in a linguistic way.
It is a rich combination of finger spelling, hand gestures, body language, facial expressions, timing, touch and anything else that communicates an idea without the use of speech. Sign language flourished in the hostels and playgrounds of the deaf schools.
It is also commonly used by scuba divers underwater, motorcycle riders and even sometimes by monks who have taken a vow of silence. Deaf people can sign/chat with each other over great distances.
To learn more about sign language, contact Maree (ronel.maree@gmail.com). - Mossel Bay Municipality
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