A Social Welfare Bureau project standardising Macao sign language is set to be complete by 2025, according to government officials cited by TDM.
Authorities are in the “preliminary stage” of setting up a vocabulary bank, the broadcaster noted, for the purpose of creating a version of sign language tailored specifically for Macao.
The bureau (known by its Portuguese initials IAS) also reportedly plans to develop a certification system for Macao sign language interpreters.
[See more: Is Macao as deaf-friendly as it could be?]
Back in January, IAS chief Hon Wai told media his team were recruiting and training hearing-impaired Macao residents to “support and participate in the work inherent in compiling sign language lexicons, in favour of promoting the development of the local sign language.”
Macao people currently use an unofficial version of Hong Kong Sign Language. An official Macau Sign Language will include the city’s unique cultural contexts, expressions, and idiomatic phrases – ensuring that these nuances are accurately represented and understood.
The IAS estimates that there are about 4,700 hearing-impaired people in Macao – with nearly a quarter of them experiencing severe or very severe deafness.
