Minister of Social Development and Family H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Social Development and Family H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad has announced “Jumla Sign Language” project for hard of hearing people on International Day of Sign Languages which falls on September 23.
The project, first-of-its-kind in the world, has been developed by Mada - Qatar Assistive Technology Center – at the Ministry of Social Development and Family.
The announcement was made by Minister of Social Development and Family in a video message posted on X platform.
“On the occasion of World Sign Languages Day, I salute all hard of hearing people in Qatar and around the world,” said the Minister. She said that sign language is one of the pillars of promoting inclusiveness and cultural diversity.
For our part, Al Misnad said: “We believe that disability is a disability of the will because with determination all challenges are softened and with cooperation we overcome all paths leading to success.
“We are pleased to announce the innovations and research outputs of the 'Jumla Sign Language' project, the first and unique of its kind in the world.”
The Minister said the project was developed at the Mada Center to promote and ensure hard of hearing people’s access to information and communications technology, coinciding with International Week of the Deaf.
“I extend all thanks, support and gratitude to people with disabilities for their strength, determination and creativity, as well as to those working in the field of developing technology to support them. Your country stands behind you and with you,” said Al Misnad.
As well as all spoken languages, sign languages (SL) have a structured grammar and syntax. Despite the fact that it is visual, multi-dimensional and mainly based on gestures, SL follows specifics grammatical rules. Consequently, the automatic generation of sign language should follow these rules.
It’s for this reason that Mada works on the development of a new framework that aims to support researchers and developers to create new innovantive tools for the deaf. The objective is essentially to create tools that enhance the development of software using grammatically validated sentences.
The International Day of Sign Languages serves as a stark reminder of the imperative for governments, organisations, and individuals to prioritise accessibility and inclusivity in all facets of society. It is a day to reaffirm commitment to ensuring that sign languages are accessible to all, everywhere. The UN General Assembly has proclaimed September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages to help raise awareness about sign language and the rights of deaf people. On this day, events are held worldwide to celebrate sign language and highlight its importance in promoting communication and inclusion.