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Sign language is often described as “the language for the eyes” or “the language that cannot be heard”. It serves as the voice of the Deaf, the non-verbal and the hard of hearing, who communicate their thoughts by using hand gestures and facial expressions. In recent years, a growing number of people have shown interest in sign language, driven by the desire to connect with the Deaf, enhance mutual understanding and practice inclusion in their daily lives. To meet this demand, the Link Sustainability Lab at Lok Fu Place has stepped forward to offer free video tutorials and workshops. These educational resources are designed to help the public learn and communicate in the unvoiced language.
In late February, instructors from the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf conducted a workshop at the Link Sustainability Lab, aimed at teaching sign language to nearly 40 participants from the local neighborhood and broader community.
Morticia, accompanied by her daughter, demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for acquiring the new language during the workshop. Her enthusiasm was palpable as she actively engaged in class, posing questions. “Today’s workshop reminded me of my secondary school days when I initially learned sign language,” she says. “That was the time when the Cantopop singer David Lui Fong’s song about ‘the words of silence’ became popular.”
Noting its ease of learning but difficulty in mastery due to its constant evolution, Morticia admired the creativity imbued in Hong Kong Sign Language: “For example, there are different gestures for saying ‘good morning’ and other signs for saying ‘good afternoon’. It’s even more difficult to express an entire sentence.” Morticia hopes that both she and her daughter will acquire this communication skill “and that we can put it to meaningful use someday.”
Another participant Jay, learned about the Link Sustainability Lab workshops through a Channel 823 article and decided to attend the one for sign language. She discovered that the Hong Kong version was markedly different to the American version: “In the United States, I learned the signs for the 26 alphabet characters and how to express words by signing each letter. If I want to say ‘happy’, I simply make the signs for the five letters, h-a-p-p-y. In contrast, Hong Kong Sign Language presents a unique challenge, owing to linguistic and cultural differences. For example, surnames such as ‘Chan’ cannot be communicated through gestures.”
Jay describes the workshop as “eye-opening and fascinating”, adding, “I hope similar workshops can be organised in the community so that we can continue to learn.”
If you’re interested in learning sign language but missed the workshop, you can visit the Link Sustainability Lab for access to video tutorials. Cynthia, a professional sign language interpreter renowned for her graceful gestures and expressive facial expressions, will be your guide in learning to convey emotions such as joy and sorrow through sign language.
Cynthia shares her personal journey with sign language: “Growing up with both parents being Deaf, sign language was the natural mode of communication in our household. It wasn’t until later that I received further training in sign language through Deaf organisations. Since completing my studies, I’ve had the privilege of working with various entities including TV stations, hospitals, government agencies, RTHK and the Legislative Council, delivering messages to Deaf audiences through sign language.”
In recent years, Hong Kong has made significant strides in recognising the needs of the Deaf community. Cynthia has observed this positive shift first-hand: “I’ve noticed that some restaurant and hospital staff, as well as flight attendants, now possess basic sign language skills to communicate with the Deaf, which is a promising development.”
Cynthia expresses hope that this collaboration will serve as a catalyst for further progress: “We can explore the possibility of incorporating a sign language window into the promotional videos of Link’s shopping malls and fresh markets. This initiative would provide the Deaf community with access to relevant information and promote greater social inclusion, ultimately enriching the lives of all community members.”
