Sign Language

Both British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) were embraced within the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and in March 2004 the Secretary of State announced the formal recognition of BSL and ISL as languages in their own right following similar recognition of BSL in Great Britain.

Sign languages have their own grammar and syntax systems rather than being visual reflections of other languages. BSL is the first or preferred language of communication of approximately 3,500 members of the Deaf population of Northern Ireland while approximately 1,500 use ISL

A partnership group led by DCAL and including representatives of Northern Ireland Departments and the Deaf community has been reviewing and taking forward initiatives to support the issues of access to public services by users of sign languages users, and the education and training of sign language interpreters and tutors.

Best Practice Guidance on the provision of public services to BSL and ISL users has been compiled and distributed for use by staff in government departments. Appendixes to the Guidance provide additional information and contact details

An exhibition to raise awareness of BSL and ISL has been touring public buildings since September 2006 and is also available to voluntary, community and other organisations for use at suitable events.

The Partnership Group commissioned external consultants to identify options for increasing the number of sign language interpreters and tutors in Northern Ireland.  The Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) is now working with further education training providers to develop courses to NVQ 4 level.

Teanga Chomharthaíochta

Cuireadh fáilte roimh Theanga Chomharthaíochta na Breataine (TCB) agus Theanga Chomharthaíochta na hÉireann (TCÉ) laistigh de Chomhaontú Bhéal Feirste/Aoine an Chéasta agus i Márta 2004 d’fhógair Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann go n-aithneofaí TCB agus TCÉ go foirmiúil mar theangacha iontu féin.

Tá a gcuid córas gramadaí agus comhréire féin ag baint le teangacha comharthaíochta in ionad bheith ina léiriú físe ar theangacha eile. Is í TCB an chéad teanga nó an teanga roghnaithe cumarsáide do thart ar 3,500 ball de phobal na mBodhar i dTuaisceart Éireann agus úsáideann thart ar 1,500 acu TCÉ.

Tá grúpa comhpháirtíochta a bhfuil an RCEF i gceannas air agus a chuimsíonn ionadaithe ó Ranna Thuaisceart Éireann agus ó phobal na mBodhar ag déanamh athbhreithnithe ar thionscnaimh chun tacú le ceisteanna maidir le rochtain ar sheirbhísí poiblí ag úsáideoirí teangacha comharthaíochta, chomh maith le hoideachas agus oiliúint ateangairí agus teagascóirí teanga chomharthaíochta agus tá na tionscnaimh sin á chur chun tosaigh aige.

Tiomsaíodh Treoir Dea-Chleachtais ar sheirbhísí poiblí a sholáthar d’úsáideoirí TCB agus TCÉ agus scaipeadh í le húsáid ag baill foirne i ranna rialtais. Soláthraíonn na hAguisíní don Treoir eolas breise agus sonraí teagmhála.

Tá taispeántas chun feasacht ar TCB agus TCÉ  a mhéadú ag déanamh camchuairte ar fhoirgnimh phoiblí ó Mheán Fómhair 2006 agus tá sé ar fáil d’eagraíochtaí deonacha, pobail agus eagraíochtaí eile le húsáid ag imeachtaí oiriúnacha.

Chun úsáid an taispeántais a iarraidh do chomhdháil/sheimeanár nó ionad poiblí, déan teagmháil le Brainse an Bheartais um Éagsúlacht Chultúrtha agus Teanga ar an teileafón ar 02890515061, trí ríomhphost chuig CLDPB@dcalni.gov.uk nó trí theachtaireacht téacs ar 02890527668.

Choimisiúnaigh an Grúpa Comhpháirtíochta comhairleoirí seachtracha chun roghanna a aithint chun an líon ateangairí agus teagascóirí teanga chomharthaíochta a mhéadú i dTuaisceart Éireann. Tá an Roinn Fostaíochta agus Foghlama (RFF) ag obair anois le soláthraithe breisoideachais chun cúrsaí a fhorbairt ag leibhéal NVQ 4.

SIGN LEID

Baith British Sign Leid (BSL) an’ Airish Sign Leid (ASL) wur tuk in bae the Bilfawst/Guid Friday ‘Greement an i Mairch 2004 the Secretary o’ State announced the recognisin’ o’ BSL an’ ASL es leids i thair ain richt efter BSL wus recognised i the saime wie i Great Britain.

Sign leids hae thair ain grammer an’ systems o’ syntax an irnae visual reflections o’ ither leids.  BSL bes the furst ir chusen leid o’ communication o’ aboot 3,500 members o’ the deef community o’ Norlin Airlan quyhles aboot 1,500 uise ASL.

A partnerschip curn led bae DCAL an wi’ representatives o’ Norlin Airlan Depairtments an’ the deef community hes bein leukin intae an’ taakin forrit initiatives tae heft the issues adae wi’ access tae public services bae thaim at uise sign leids, an’ the education an’ trainin’ o’ sign language interpreters an’ teachers.

Bes’ Prattick Steerins oan the gien o’ public services tae thaim at uise BSL an’ ASL hes bein maide ap an’ pit oot tae staff i government depairtments.  Add oans tae the Steerins  gie mair wittens an’ wies o’ gettin’ oan tae the differ depairtments.

A shew tae ris’ awareness o’ BSL an’ ASL hes bein stravaigin aroun’ differ public biggins sine Sictimmer 2006 an’ can bae gien oot tae voluntary, community an’ ither organisations tae uise aa apt events.

The Partnerschip Curn commissioned ootby consultants tae fin’ chuses fer risin the nummer o’ sign leid interpreters an’ teachers i Norlin Airlan.  The Depairtment o’ Waark an’ Lear bes waarkin the noo wi’ farder education giers tae forder coorses tae NVQ 4 level.

Tae leuk aboot uisin the shew fer a conference/collouge ir fer shewin i a public biggin, get oantae Heirskeip an’ Leid Diversity Policie Brench bae tellyphone oan 028 9051 5061, bae epoast tae CLDPB@dcalni.gov.uk ir bae textphone oan 028 9052 7668.