Addis Ababa, December 1, 2023 – Deafness is one of the most prevalent disabilities in Ethiopia, with the deaf population growing each year. The December 1 launch of the first digital Ethiopian Sign Language (EthSL) dictionary will lower language barriers, increase the inclusion of the deaf in social and economic activities, and spur economic growth and productivity. The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia is proud to support the game-changing efforts of Addis Ababa University’s Center for Special Education, led by Dr. Pawlos Kassu, and Gallaudet University (Washington D.C.) to develop the digital EthSL dictionary in four Ethiopian languages (Amharic, Afan Oromo, Somali, and Tigrinya) and English through a $110,000 grant.
The development of the digital dictionary combined descriptive and applied linguistic research to minimize the challenges that deaf Ethiopians face in economic development and accessing public and private sector services. The digital Ethiopian Sign Language Dictionary, containing more than 3000 signs, is available online here and as a free downloadable pdf for offline use.
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