Luke Nacei
1 May, 2021, 2:25 pm
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong with the interpreter (right) during a press conference in Suva. Picture: RAMA
The Fiji Association of the Deaf (FAD) says it is unfortunate people are making negative comments about interpreters, especially when they do not understand how sign language works.
The association also stated negative comments on social media about interpreters who were conveying critical messages at this time was “a clear indication that deaf people’s lives don’t matter”.
The association stated sign language used visual-manual modality to convey meaning.
It stated the use of synchronised facial expressions, body language, hand movements and space was used to articulate context of the spoken language.