The project

Technical terms are an essential part of all technical and scientific documentation, whether directed to education, to research or to labour. In education settings, there is a need to provide clear definitions of terms, to use a glossary explaining the meaning of each technical term when introducing a new topic and to align terminology and communication channels to the abilities of the target audience. It is exactly at this last point that equity and inclusion issues originate. If we provide these definitions, or explanations, as we currently do, using spoken languages in writing we leave apart all those who cannot fluently read them.

Deaf people cannot read fluently. Sign languages and spoken languages are distinct languages, each one on its own. Sign and spoken languages in the same country use distinct channels, different phonology and morphology, different grammar and arise from different cultures. One cannot expect that a deaf person used to communicate via sign language – let’s say British Sign Language – can understand written English as well as we cannot expect that a person used to communicate in English can understand British Sign Language. When we force deaf students to study via written spoken languages, we are putting them at a clear disadvantage and seriously compromising equity.

Inclusive education is about assuring that all students have the conditions and the resources they need to succeed; this does not happen when we force students to study using a language they do not master. There is a need for a tool that can introduce and explain to deaf students technical or scientific concepts from specific areas of knowledge in sign language.

The TechWhiz project aims to assist deaf students gaining access to education in their first language thus enhancing their learning experience. To address this goal we will develop an online semi-automatic platform to create and search a glossary providing explanations of technical or scientific terms in sign language.