Penang Sign Language
Encyclopedia
Penang Sign Language was developed in Malaysia by deaf
children, outside the classroom, when oralism
was predominant. It is now mainly used by older people, although many younger people can understand it.
In the 1960s, Tan Yap went to Gallaudet University
in Washington, D.C.
to learn deaf culture and sign language. He brought an ASL book back with him to Malaysia. But Tan Yap's suggestions were rejected by the Government.
An American, Professor Frances Parsons, travelled around the world in 1976 in order to introduce Total Communication
and Sign Language to poor schools for the deaf, in order to better prepare them for education. In the same year, Frances Parsons went to Kuala Lumpur
to meet with Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad
, the Minister of Education. After a 45-minute discussion, Dr Mahathir agreed with Parsons's suggestions and theory. In the next few days, Dr. Mahathir announced new legislation that obliged schools in Malaysia to teach Total Communication and Sign Language. Manchester-trained teachers were unhappy with the new law and protested Mohamad's decision. As a result, BIM (Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia) or MSL (Malaysian Sign Language) became similar to American Sign Language after 1976.
Deaf culture
Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication. When used as a cultural label, the word deaf is often written with a...
children, outside the classroom, when oralism
Oralism
Oralism is the education of deaf students through spoken language by using lip reading, speech, and mimicking the mouth shapes and breathing patterns of speech instead of using sign language within the classroom...
was predominant. It is now mainly used by older people, although many younger people can understand it.
History
Penang Sign Language began when the first school for the deaf, Federation School for the Deaf (FSD), was established by Lady Templer, the wife of the British High Commissioner in Malaya, in 1954. Deaf students went to FSD, to learn oral skills, not sign language. However, the students would sign by themselves in the dormitory of FSD every night.In the 1960s, Tan Yap went to Gallaudet University
Gallaudet
Gallaudet is the name of* Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet* Edward Miner Gallaudet* Thomas Gallaudet * Gallaudet University* Edson Fessenden Gallaudet* Gallaudet Aircraft Company...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to learn deaf culture and sign language. He brought an ASL book back with him to Malaysia. But Tan Yap's suggestions were rejected by the Government.
An American, Professor Frances Parsons, travelled around the world in 1976 in order to introduce Total Communication
Total Communication
Total Communication is an approach to deaf education that aims to make use of a number of modes of communication such as signed, oral, auditory, written and visual aids, depending on the particular needs and abilities of the child.-History:...
and Sign Language to poor schools for the deaf, in order to better prepare them for education. In the same year, Frances Parsons went to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
to meet with Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad
Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad . is a Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister. His political career spanned almost 40 years.Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir...
, the Minister of Education. After a 45-minute discussion, Dr Mahathir agreed with Parsons's suggestions and theory. In the next few days, Dr. Mahathir announced new legislation that obliged schools in Malaysia to teach Total Communication and Sign Language. Manchester-trained teachers were unhappy with the new law and protested Mohamad's decision. As a result, BIM (Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia) or MSL (Malaysian Sign Language) became similar to American Sign Language after 1976.
See also
- Malaysian Sign LanguageMalaysian Sign LanguageMalaysian Sign Language is the sign language in everyday use in many parts of Malaysia. BIM has many dialects, differing from state to state....
(MSL) - Selangor Sign LanguageSelangor Sign LanguageSelangor Sign Language , also known as Kuala Lumpur Sign Language , is a sign language used in Malaysia. It was originally based on American Sign Language but has diverged significantly enough to now be considered a language in its own right...
(SSL or KLSL) - Kod Tangan Bahasa MalaysiaKod Tangan Bahasa MalaysiaKod Tangan Bahasa Malaysia , or Manually Coded Malay, is the only form of sign language recognised by the government in Malaysia as the language of communication for the Deaf....
(KTBM)