Ethiopia
From AASL
| Name of the country/area | Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Formal name of the country/area | Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia |
| Country/area information | The World Factbook (CIA) |
| Wikipedia (English) |
Indigenous signs for "Ethiopia"
Illustrations in the literature
"Ethiopia" (In: Japanese Federation of the Deaf ed. Supervisor: Hedberg, Tomas. 2003. Country name-signs. Helsinki, Finland: World Federation of the Deaf. 92.)
Spoken languages
Amharic
English
Sign languages
Related sign languages:
Population of Deaf/deaf people
- The population of the signers of Ethiopian Sign Language: 1,000,000 (2005, ENAD). (Ethnologue web edition)
- The National Government’s official number of Deaf people : approx 250,000. (WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. : See Bibliography below.)
Legal status of sign languages
- Status of the National Sign Language(s) from WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. (See Bibliography below).
1. The country’s government does not formally recognise the country’s sign language(s).
2. Deaf Association/Deaf Group lobbies the government for the recognition of the country’s sign language(s)
Organizations and associations of the Deaf/deaf
Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf (WFD member; established in 1971. (WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. : See Bibliography below.))
Institutes, associations and universities for sign language studies
Education for the Deaf
Vocational Training for Deaf Students
Ethiopia: Sign Language in Ethiopia Still At Infant Stage - Study
"Ethiopia: Sign Language in Ethiopia Still At Infant Stage - Study
SIGN LANGUAGE NEWS AT ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY"
- Access to Education from WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. (See Bibliography below).
1.The government recognizes that Deaf children and Deaf students have the right to receive an education.
2.Legislation or policies on Deaf Education:
- There is no specific legislation relating to deaf education BUT a policy on special needs education for persons with disabilities.
3.The government provides those educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf students:
- Primary (From 5/6 years old to 12/13 years old)
- Secondary (From 12/13 years old to 17/18 years old)
- University (After 18 years old)
- Vocational Education/Training
4.The government provides bilingual education using the country’s sign language(s) for Deaf children and Deaf students in those educational settings:
- Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old)
- Primary (From 5/6 years old to 12/13 years old)
- Secondary (From 12/13 years old to 17/18 years old)
5.Total number of schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students in the country, and the educational approach for communicating with Deaf children and students at the Deaf School:
- 10 but there are many schools for the hearing with separate classes for Deaf
- Oral and Sign Language (Total Communication)
6.Deaf people’s access to a University education and sign language interpreting services at University:
- All universities are open to the deaf if they pass the entrance exam. However, no interpreting service is available hence the deaf are forced to learn by using their own notes.
Sign language interpretation
- There is an association of sign language interpreters in Ethiopia, National Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Ethiopia-NASLIE. from WASLI. 2007. WASLI Country Reports (See Bibliography below).
- Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services from WFD. 2008. Global Survey Report. (See Bibliography below).
1.The number of sign language interpreters in the country:
- About 15 interpreters; family members and friends of the deaf serve as interpreters also although they do not have formal sign language training.
2. Sign language interpreting qualifications.
- None
3.The number of sign language interpreters who have formal interpreting qualifications in the country:
- About 15 interpreters
4.The way Deaf people access sign language interpreters:
- Through the National Association of the Deaf, and family members.
5.The provier of the sign language interpreting services:
- None
6.The payment for interpreting services, and those who are responsible for paying:
- Sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services
- Government pays
- Others: Government pays a salary for those working in schools. During workshops, symposiums and training the organisers pay.
7.The average hourly rate of payment for sign language interpreters:
- The amount varies according to availability of funds but in general it is about 15.00€ per day or about 2.00€ per hour.
8.Sign language interpreters sometimes provide voluntary service for sign language interpreting assignments.
9.National Association of Sign Language Interpreters:
- None
10.National Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters:
- None
11.Legislation or policy in the country which states that the government has a responsibility for the provision of sign language :
- None
Deaf communities and cultures
The Deaf Association in Preventing HIV/Aids
Religious activities by the Deaf
Famous Deaf persons and hearing persons concerned with sign languages
Sign language dictionaries
Bibliography
Admasu, Kidane. 2016. Lexical Variation in Ethiopian Sign Language. Poster presentation at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research Conference (TISLR 12).
Tamene, Eyasu. 2016. How many sign languages are there in Ethiopia? Lexical comparative study of Ethiopian Sign Language. Poster presentation at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research Conference (TISLR 12).
Tamene, Eyasu. 2015. Handshape inventory of Ethiopian Sign Language. Oral presentation at WOCAL8. 23 Aug. 2015. Kyoto, Japan.
Tamene, Eyasu. 2013. Language Use in Ethiopian Sign Language. Poster presentation at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR11)
Admasu, Kidane. 2013. Lexical Variation on Ethiopian Sign Language Poster presentation at the International Conference on Sign Linguistics and Deaf Education in Asia, 2013, 30 January – 2 February 2013. The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
WASLI (World Association of Sign Language Interpreters). 2011. WASLI Sponsorship Programme 2011. Kampala, UGANDA.
WASLI (World Association of Sign Language Interpreters). 2011. WASLI Activities Report 2007-2011. Kampala, UGANDA.
Endale Asefa Defersha. 2010. Hypermedia learning tool for Ethiopian Sign Language : User-Centered Design And Development. VDM Verlag Dr. Muller. Germany.
World Federation of the Deaf and Swedish National Association of the Deaf. 2008. Global Survey Report. WFD Regional Secretariat for Southern and Eastern Africa (WFD RSESA). Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People. World Federation of the Deaf. Finland.
WASLI (World Association of Sign Language Interpreters). 2007. Ethiopia. In: WASLI country reports 2002. 6-7. Kampala, Uganda.
Lasonen, Johanna, Raija Kemppainen and Kolawole Raheem. 2005. Education and training in Ethiopia: An evaluation of approaching EFA goals. Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Thune, F. 2003. HIV/AIDS and Disability. HIV/AIDS training sessions for 797 members of the Ethiopian National Association of Deaf People, In : Zeitschrift Behinderung und Dritte Welt. 14: 55–58.
Markku, Sassi. 1997. Special Teacher Diploma Course for the Teachers of the Deaf in Ethiopia and Eritrea. In: Kokkala, Heikki. ed. Providing Special Education For Those Who Need It In Developing Countries. Helsinki: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 140–47.
Abeba, Hagos. 1996. Academic barriers to the hearing impaired students. Unpublished M.A. thesis, University of Joensuu.
1996. Ethiopia : FINNIDA support to special education in Ethiopia Phase :1994-1998 Report of mid-term review Helsinki : Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Dept. for International Development Co-operation.
Taye, Kibra. 1993. Life within deafness (a poem from Ethiopia). In: Garretson, M. D. ed. Deafness: 1993–2013. A Deaf American monograph. volume 43, p. 32. Silver Spring, Maryland : National Association of the Deaf.
Chernet, Demere. Working on a Sign Language Dictionary by Makanissa School for the Deaf. 1992. In: Finnish Association of the Deaf ed. East African sign language seminar, Debre Zeit, Ethoipia, August 10-16,1990. Helsinki: Finnish Association of the Deaf. Working on a Sign Language Dictionary by Makanissa School for the Deaf. 86.
Mariam, Zerihun Haile. 1992. Country Report (Ethiopia). In: Finnish Association of the Deaf ed. East African sign language seminar, Debre Zeit, Ethoipia, August 10-16,1990. Helsinki: Finnish Association of the Deaf. 56-57.
1992. Country Report (Ethiopia). In: Finnish Association of the Deaf ed. East African sign language seminar, Debre Zeit, Ethoipia, August 10-16,1990. Helsinki: Finnish Association of the Deaf. 51-55.
Admasu, Awlachew and Teklehaimanot Derso. 1991-1992. News form Ethiopia : Deaf people communicating with professionals. In : Partnership between Deaf people and professionals : Proceedings of a conference held 27 Jul-2 Aug. 1991 at the Grand Hotel Verdala, Rabat, Malta, reprinted in Signpostsummer 1992. 84-88.
Gebre–Michael H. 1983. A study of adult men and women with impaired hearing and their mutual aid society in Addis Ababa. Senior essay, Dept Sociology, Addis Ababa University.
Derso, Tekle Haimanot. 1981. The development of gestural communication in Ethiopia. In: Bulgarian Deaf Union ed., The deaf people in modern society: proceedings of the 8th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf. Varna, June 20-27, 1979. Varna, Bulgaria. 350-353.
Gessese K. 1970. A study of the history of deaf schools in Addis Ababa. Haile Sellassie I University.
Heffner, Edna Spencer. 1951. The deaf and the hard of hearing in Ethiopia. In : Volta Review. 53 (7) 310.
Researchers
History of sign language research
Events
Links
Deaf cultures and Sign Languages of the world: Ethiopia
Notes
| Africa (general) | Africa (general) |
|---|---|
| North Africa | Algeria | Egypt | Libya | Morocco | Tunisia |
| West Africa | Benin | Burkina Faso | Cote d'Ivoire | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Liberia | Mali | Mauritania | Niger | Nigeria | Senegal | Sierra Leone | Togo |
| Island states in the Atlantic Ocean | Cape Verde | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Central Africa | Burundi | Cameroon | Central African Republic | Chad | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Equatorial Guinea | Gabon | Republic of the Congo | Rwanda |
| East Africa | Djibouti | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Kenya | Somalia | South Sudan | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda |
| Southern Africa | Angola | Botswana | Lesotho | Malawi | Mozambique | Namibia | South Africa | Swaziland | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
| Island states in the Indian Ocean | Comoros | Madagascar | Mauritius | Seychelles |
| Areas and others | Western Sahara |
