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Helping hearing-impaired bare their soul
KATHMANDU, JUL 17 -
Sign language interpreters have proved to be a boon to people with hearing deficiencies. Be it carrying out daily chores or pouring hearts out, they are the only helping hands around.
Hearing-impaired people say they cannot communicate with others sans interpreters. “Interpreters are inseparable part of our lives,” signaled Laxmi Devkota, a deaf woman and sign language instructor.
“In their absence, communication with the world is impossible,” she said. Neeta Bhattrai, another hearing-impaired woman, also subscribed to Devkota’s argument. Interpreters are the only hope for people living with hearing deficiencies, she said.
Sign language interpreters are also pleased with their role of helping bridge the communication gap between deaf people and others. Yadav Dahal, an interpreter since 12 years, said he is always eager to help hearing-impaired people.
“It is a wrong notion among people that sign language is meant for only deaf,” he said. “Had interpreters not available, deaf people would have ended up being cheated.” Interpreters like Dahal are critical of the government and general people for trampling on their needs in public places. Interpreters should be kept in media, hospitals, schools, religious places and so on to disseminate information to hearing-impaired, Dahal said. “The sign language is confined to merely 2,500 to 3,000 approved words and needs further development.”
Interpreters acknowledge the importance of their job, but they find it equally challenging. They need to be aware of possible miscommunication and win full trust of hearing-impaired people for clear communication.
“Interpreters know all about a deaf person’s private life,” said Neeta Bhattrai, another hearing-impaired people learning sign language.
Sign-language has not developed in full view in Nepal. As a result of this, people with hearing deficiencies have been deprived of education. In a bid to solve problems of hearing-impaired people, a sign language research and development committee was proposed by Tribhuvan University, but the plan could not materialise.
“As long as sign language is not used widely, hearing-impaired people cannot fully express their feelings,” Dahal said.
Posted on: 2010-07-18 08:35
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