English-ISL Dictionary
The Irish Deaf Society are proud to launch the first phase of our ambitious English-ISL dictionary. You may have seen other dictionaries and glossaries related to sign languages before, but not like this one! For many years we have been aware that there is no resource that explains English words in Irish Sign Language.
We don't mean providing a sign for an English word, or explaining how you would sign a word if a formal sign does not exist, we mean explaining what an English word means through Irish Sign Language. This is the same as an English-French dictionary, or an English-French dictionary but with explanations in Irish Sign language.
We are the first in Ireland to produce this type of dictionary. There are very few like it in the world, we found only three in other European countries.
This first stage is launching with a glossary focussed on ISL explanations of English language employment words, this initial project has been funded by Rethink Ireland.
This first stage is launching with a glossary focussed on ISL explanations of English language employment words, this initial project has been funded by Rethink Ireland.In the coming years we will build on this stage and add more and more specialist glossaries explaining other English language words. We also invite you and your organisation to contribute and help us explain the same number of words that are in the Oxford Dictionary - that's 180,000! Contact us to find out more and how your glossary project could be added to the Irish Deaf Society English-ISL dictionary.
Hearing people have access to dictionaries explaining words from a second language in their own preferred language, this has never existed for Deaf people before. This is the start of an exciting project that will support English language literacy and comprehension for the Irish Deaf community. Not only that, it will empower Deaf people to take part in the community on an equal basis.
We will expand and add to this dictionary in the coming years and work towards a complete dictionary and a brilliant resource for Deaf people in Ireland. Support this project, you are welcome to join us and make this dream a reality.