Introducing Sign Language and the Deaf : For Beginner

FOR BEGINNER



Production Team

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Title
Introducing Sign Language and the Deaf : For Beginner

Author
Aida Sufiah Binti Zalfakhar

Illustrator
Aida Sufiah Binti Zalfakhar

Editor in Chief
Jamizan Binti Jalaluddin Mohd Rashid

Thanks to the entire production team and all the people involved in
this project.

Publish by :
@UitM Press, UiTM 2021

Graphic Design Department
Faculty of Art & Design
UiTM Kampus Puncak Alam Bandar Puncak Alam
42300 Puncak Alam
UiTM Universiti Cawangan Selangor

1 July 2022

ISBN

1

2

Biography

The author was born on 29th October 1999, in Malaysia and has a
strong interest in illustrations and graphic design. Currently in the final
year of Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design. The author created a
book with the title 'Introducing Sign Languages and the Deaf for
Beginner" due to lack of sign languages education among Malaysian
youth generation. An educational book about sign languages is
developed to increase the awareness about
sign languages by using an appealing
cartoonish illustration style with digital
medium.

Aida Sufiah Binti Zalfakhar

Email : sufi[email protected]
Behance : behance.net/aidasufiah

3

Table of Content

Production 1
Biography 3
Table of Contents 4
Abstract 5
Introduction 6 - 11
Why do we need to learn sign languages? 12 - 23
How do we start learning sign languages? 24 - 31
How do we support the deaf community? 32 - 35
Basic guides to learn sign languages 36 - 37
Numbers 38 - 39
Alphabets 40 - 43
Colours 44 - 45
Pronouns 46 - 47
Questions 48 - 49
Speech 50 - 53
Novelty 54 - 55
References 56

4

Abstract

Sign languages are languages that use the visual-manual
modality to convey a certain meaning. The primary language
that is use by Malaysia’s deaf people is known as Malaysian Sign
Languages, or in other words ‘Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia’. This sign
language is mainly used by those who are deaf and people that
are closely related to hearing impaired person, either by deaf
family members, friends or relatives. However, it is rarely used
and learn by the public especially from the Malaysian youth
generation. This book will show the insight about sign languages
and the deaf community as well as giving guides on learning it.

5

01

6

1 INTRODUCTION

7

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Sign languages (also known as signed languages) are languages
that communicate through a visual-manual modality. Manual
articulations are used in conjunction with non-manual
components to convey sign languages.
Sign languages are natural languages in
their own right, having their own grammar
and lexicon. Although there are parallels
across different sign languages, they are not
universal and are typically not mutually
comprehensible.

8

Kod Tangan Bahasa Malaysvia or Manually Coded Malay (KTBM) is a
teaching method created by hearing educators and linguists in between
1980 and 1986 and remains the only form of sign recognized by the
Malaysian Ministry of Education as a method to teach Malay to deaf
students in formal education settings.

B IM

Malaysian Sign Language (Malay: Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia, or BIM) is the
principal language of the deaf community of Malaysia. It is also the
official sign language used by the Malaysian government to
communicate with the deaf community and was officially recognised by
the Malaysian government in 2008 as a means to officially communicate
with and among the deaf, particularly on official broadcasts and
announcements. Malaysian Sign Language was created with the
establishment of the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf in 1998, and its
use has expanded among deaf leaders and participants.

9

10

What is Deaf ?

Deafness is defined differently in different cultural and medical
situations. Deafness is a medical term that refers to hearing loss
that prevents a person from understanding spoken language.
Deafness is described as a degree of hearing loss that prevents a
person from understanding speech, even with amplification. Even
the greatest intensity sounds produced by an audiometer (a

device that measures hearing by creating pure tone sounds
over a range of frequencies) may not be noticed in severe
deafness.

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brain in a timely manner.

11

02

12

WHY

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13

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14

By learning sign languages, more people will be able to communicate
with the deaf community and allow them to connect with more people,
especially in public. Both deaf people and people from the public will
have more confidence to approach each other to communicate as both
parties will have decent skills in sign languages. Hence, this can create a
norm in the society where sign language is constantly used daily and
helps the deaf community from feeling discriminated or outcasted.

15

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16

People proficient in sign languages can pursue various careers,
including a sign language translator. There is a great demand for more
skilled MSL (Malay Sign Language) interpreters in the community and
mainstream programmes in schools, colleges, or universities.

Hospitals, courts, governmental organisations,
community events, and municipal, county,
and state legislatures are just a few areas
where interpreters are needed. Similarly,
instructors, counsellors, consultants,
therapists, and experts in public and
commercial institutions and educational
settings employ MSL to assist the deaf
and hard of hearing. MSL is also useful
for law enforcement and emergency
response personnel.

17

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The advantages of studying sign
language are the same as those of
learning a foreign language.
Bilingualism in any language,
whether signed or spoken, is
beneficial to the brain. It improves
memory, attention span, creativity,
and communication while
strengthening cognitive function and
thinking. Bilingual students outperform
monolingual pupils on standardised
examinations, and secondary language
immersion correlates to enhanced IQ in students.
Furthermore, sign language may be easier to
learn than other spoken languages, not
only for the deaf but also for those with
autism, dyslexia, and other learning
problems.

18

19

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Sign language is a beautiful method to bond with and
communicate with pre-verbal children of all ages. A recent
study reveals that signing enhances newborns'
linguistic and mental development, reduces
childhood tantrums and strengthens the
parent-child bond. Children who learn sign
languages get all of the advantages of
being bilingual, plus a few extras such as
improved spelling and reading skills.
According to research, children who
acquire basic sign language
abilities have better spelling
skills. Signing provides an
additional tool for children to
recall spelling words and
creates a stronger
impression on the brain.

20

21

Get the opportunity
to get to know the

5 deaf community

22

Learning a second language immerses you in a new society and culture.
The same is true for sign language, which introduces us to the deaf
community and its culture, which is essential to the identity and lives of
deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Individuals who become
sufficiently interested in sign languages will ultimately become active in
the community and meet new people or make new friends. This effort of
learning sign languages comforts the deaf community since more
people will understand their struggles and do their best to
communicate with them. As a result, more people will have a clearer
understanding of how deaf individuals live their daily lives and deal with
their difficulties.

23

03

24

HOW

DO WE LEARN

3 ?LSAIGNNGUAGES

25

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26

Community centres, community colleges, and other educational
institutions frequently offer day and evening classes. People can apply
for sign languages classes from Malaysia deaf associations like MFD or
RC Deaf Missions Malaysia. They have courses conducted by deaf
instructors who have been trained and certified qualified. Classes are
also an excellent chance to meet new people and view the signs up
close. Being in a class allows you to practise signing with various
individuals. It is a good investment if the qualification leads to a job.

2 27

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Using an online platform as a self-study for sign
language is suitable for those who want to learn
at their own pace. There are plenty of online
resources like YouTube where people can
watch videos that teach the guide to use sign
language. In addition, any form of video is a
great way to learn as it can be replayed many
times. In addition, thousands of video options
can be chosen that suit every person, ranging
from beginner guide videos to an expert guide
videos. Also, online content is so diverse that
more profound information about sign
languages can be learned such as learning its
history or deaf culture.

28

29

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Many cities have deaf clubs or groups of deaf people who

meet regularly and often use sign language as their

form of communication. It’s a fantastic place to

meet new people who share common hearing

loss and the chance to polish sign language

skills. Some sign language organization in

Malaysia includes the Malaysia

Federation of the Deaf (MFD),

Malaysia Deaf Sports Association

and Selangor Hearing Impaired

Community Association.

These associations will often

do a lot of community

events and give people

classes to learn sign

languages. Besides,

connecting and

interacting with a

group of sign

language users can

make the learning

experience much

better and more

fun.

30

31

04

32

HOW

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33

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There are various ways and methods that can be done to show support
to the deaf community. One of the main things that can be done is to

learn the sign language itself. By learning sign
languages, you will automatically involve in
the deaf community and helps the deaf
communicate with you easier. BIM (Bahasa
Isyarat Malaysia) is the core bond between
the deaf community and deaf culture and it
is the first step for hearing people to get
involved.

34

Share the love
towards Sign
Languages and the

2 Deaf community

Of course, one of the easiest ways to support is by showing love to
the community. This can be done in many ways,
such as donating to any type of deaf
association or joining any public deaf events.
If there is ever a time when some deaf
people are struggling in public, then it’s
better to take the initiative to help them.
Sharing any type of content related to sign
language on social media is also a form of
showing love to the community as it
can boost awareness about the
deaf.

35

05

36

5 BASIC
GUIDE

TO LEARN
LSAIGNNGUAGES

37

Numbers

38

39

Alphabets

40

41

42

43

Colours

Merah Hitam
Red Black

Oren Ungu
Orange Purple

44

Hijau Biru
Green Blue

Kuning Putih
Yellow White

45

Pronouns

Saya Dia
I , Me He , She

Awak , Anda Mereka
You They

46

Tuan Kami
Sir We

Puan Kamu
Madam Your

47

Questions

Apa? Siapa?
What? Who?

Why? Kenapa?
Which? Why?

48