Introduced sign language interpreter for governor's interviews in all prefectures Received expansion of new corona infection June 8 at 5:33
In response to the spread of the new coronavirus, NHK interviews revealed that since March, sign language interpreters have been newly installed at governors' meetings in 36 prefectures and interpreters have been introduced in all prefectures. On the other hand, because technical terms such as clusters do not have the same sign language expression method, it is difficult for hearing-impaired people to understand, and efforts are being made in various regions to improve them.
When NHK interviewed 47 prefectures, it was 11 prefectures including Hokkaido and Tottori that introduced sign language interpreters to the governor's interview as of March 1st.
A group of hearing-impaired people and others have been requesting the placement of sign language interpreters in order to promptly inform them about the infection status and countermeasures against the new coronavirus.
From March 30th in Tokyo, April 13th in Osaka and Hyogo, and last month 22nd in Okayama, sign language interpreters were newly placed at the Governor's Conference and introduced in 36 prefectures, resulting in all prefectures. An interpreter will be provided.
On the other hand, from the hearing impaired, many technical terms related to the new coronavirus such as clusters are difficult to understand because the expression method of sign language is not uniform, and light is reflected on the face shield attached by the interpreter, It has been pointed out that it is difficult to read important mouth movements and facial expressions in sign language, and efforts are being made to improve them in various places.
The All Japan Deaf Federation says, “I am very pleased to have a sign language interpreter at the press conference. It is natural to have an interpreter even after the new coronavirus infection is over, remembering that some citizens cannot hear. I hope it will be."
Consideration of unified expression
Discussions are currently underway to determine a unified sign language expression for the terminology used in connection with the new coronavirus.
On the 5th of this month, the "Japan Sign Language Research Institute" held a meeting in Morioka City to consider a proposal for sign language expression methods for 27 terms, including technical terms used in connection with the new coronavirus.
Of these, for "cluster", which represents the outbreak of infected people, a combination of sign language that people gather and spread sign language was proposed.
Regarding the "Emergency Declaration," it was suggested that the interpreters would use the sign language for the ambulance siren or the sign language for the emergency, and the expression would be different.
The unified sign language expression method of the technical terms used in connection with the new coronavirus will be discussed at national conferences based on plans issued by each region in the future, and it is expected to be decided in September this year. ..