The Centre on Friday launched an Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary mobile application called 'Sign Learn'. The app was launched by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik.
Sign Learn is based on the Indian sign language dictionary of the Indian Sign Language Research And Training Centre (ISLRTC) which contains 10,000 words.
The app is available in Android as well as iOS versions, and all the words in the ISL dictionary can be searched through Hindi or English medium, a release by the government said.
The sign videos of the app can also be shared on social media. "The app has been developed to make the ISL dictionary easily available and to make it more accessible for the public at large," the statement said.
Notably, ISLRTC had recently signed an MoU with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on October 6, 2020 for converting NCERT textbooks from classes 1 to 12 into the Indian Sign Language (digital format) to make the textbooks accessible to children with hearing disabilities.
The ‘Sign Language Day’ with the theme ‘Sign Languages Unite Us’ was celebrated under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre on Friday. During the event, the government launched ISL e-content of NCERT textbooks of class 6 and also released ISL versions of selected books of National Book Trust's 'Veergatha' series.
This apart, 500 academic words in Indian Sign Language were launched under the joint effort of ISLRTC and NCERT. These academic words are used at the secondary level which are often used in history, science, political science and mathematics.
Rajesh Aggrawal, Secretary DEPwD said the government is making all possible efforts be to ensure that every district will have an Indian Sign Language interpreter to facilitate accessible communication for Deaf persons.