Miss-Delectable

Deaf give sign language a helping hand - Whangarei Northern Advocate - 2008-05-07 17:57:00.0 - localnews

Think of all the noises around you where you are right now. The blaring of the TV, maybe, or the sound of someone in the next room.

Now imagine not hearing any of it - and living in a world of silence.

That's the reality for hundreds of Northlanders who are deaf, many of whom use sign language to communicate.

It's New Zealand Sign Language Week, and the Northland Deaf Association is out promoting sign language in the region.

Yesterday in Cameron St Mall in Whangarei, members of the association were out shaking collection buckets with a thumbs-up image on the lid - the universal sign for "good".



Passers-by could sit down for 10 minutes and receive a crash-course in sign language - learning a couple of basic signs and how to sign their name.

Two Whangarei girls came over when The Northern Advocate visited the stall, and sat down with deaf man Eddie Hokianga.

He taught them how to sign their names, and how to sign "hi", "my name (is)" and "thank you."

Holly Walker and Korina Shortland thought sign language was "cool."

Said Holly: "Yeah, it's quite easy to pick up, too."

Mr Hokianga said one of the main messages the deaf community wanted to get across was that hearing parents of deaf children should get themselves and their children into sign-language classes.

He also pointed out that the symbol of Sign Language Week is the butterfly - a deaf insect.

Deaf Association Northland spokeswoman Catherine Bagley said one of the aims was to have children grow up thinking sign language was normal.

There are events throughout the week.

Members of the deaf community are to visit Whangarei Boys' High School and Tikipunga High today to conduct sign-language classes with students.

On Thursday it's Kaipara's turn, with visits to Dargaville High School and Ruawai College.

On Friday they're at St John's Childcare Centre in Whangarei.

Then at the weekend, free 45-minute "taster" sign language classes will be held at the Whangarei Library from 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

Anyone can attend.

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Deafness

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Buffalo

I didn't know that butterflies are deaf. I only knew that octupi, cuttlefishes and squids are deaf. Butterflies are prettier.

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It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem.
- Gilbert Chesterton