Connect with us

Uncategorized

TOC Focus Week: “Singapore needs a Helen Keller”

Published

14 years ago

on

Deborah Choo

Indonesian born Geraldine Kong lost her hearing to a high fever as a child because the local doctor there had prescribed her the wrong medicine. She also has a brother who became deaf after a high fever.

“When we were young, we would make up our own signs. Communication wasn’t a problem,” Geraldine spoke of her childhood. She moved to Singapore at a young age and has been living here since.

Her first job was a temporary payroll clerk at a bank. “It was very hard to communicate,” she says. “The people were all so arrogant. So I did my own work and went home after finishing. I didn’t really talk much to them.”

After her short stint at the bank, she went on to teach dressmaking and tailoring for 15 years. She was also teaching basic office, service and computer applications skills, job social skills and family education.

A former deaf teacher at the Singapore Association of the Deaf (SADeaf) Vocational School for the Handicapped (now known as Mountbatten Vocational School) for close to 30 years, Geraldine says there is one thing lacking in our education system today: Teachers with true passion.

[Picture, right: Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan, Library of Congress]

“Singapore needs a Helen Keller,” Geraldine stressed.

Helen Adams Keller, the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, was a prolific American author, political activist and lecturer. A well traveled and outspoken lady, Keller was a member of the left-wing Socialist Party of America (SPA) and international union Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies). Like Geraldine, Keller lost her sense of sight at hearing when she contracted a fever when she was merely 18 months old.

Throughout her life, she dedicated her life improving the lives of the deaf and the blind notably through her 40 years with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). She also championed causes such as women’s suffrage, workers’ rights and socialism amongst others. Keller’s success was often attributed to her teacher Anne Sullivan, also known thereafter as “The Miracle Worker”.

Geraldine learnt oral and lip reading at Singapore’s School for the Deaf. Learning was an uphill task for her as she learned the words without truly understanding the meaning, she recalls.

Like the different dialects we have in our society, sign languages have ‘dialects’ as well.

Geraldine explains the different sign languages in the different age groups here:

Age groups Sign Language Used Description of Sign Language
6- 44 years old Signed Exact English (SEE)
  • SEE differs little from American Sign Language (ASL )and English
  • SEE: majority of signs to indicate the exact word (object, subject and verb) in question are however similar for both SEE and ASL
TODAY WE HAD MUCH RAIN. (correct English grammar) English
Today we had much rain. (there is a sign for each word in the sentence in the correct order) SEE

Translation of above:

Today rain much (reversed word order almost like Latin) ASL
45-60 years old Pidgin Sign(ed) English (PSE)
  • Viewed by sign linguistics experts as a way to “bridge” the gap between native ASL speakers and native English speakers.
  • It contains a mix of ASL rules and English grammar. Though PSE signs used originate from ASL, it deviates more towards a normal English pattern.
  • Some PSE speakers may not even utilize certain elements of the English language such as the words “the” to speed up communication.
45-90 years old Chinese Sign Language (CSL)
  • Developed in the 14th century
  • Although the first deaf school using CSL was created by the American missionary C.R. Mills and his wife in the year 1887, ASL did not influence CSL at all
  • CSL is mostly conveyed through shapes and motions joined with facial expressions.
  • CSL is fundamentally based on a alphabetic spelling system similar to the Chinese language’s hanyu pinyin system
  • CSL includes a system of blinks used to communicate tones, usually expressed as a change in gaze or a slight head turn which may be hard to discern
  • A fundamental difference between ASL and CSL lies in the fact that English and Chinese language are worlds apart to begin with. (Chinese is a tonal language; the same phonetic pronunciation with a different intonation has a different meaning.)

Geraldine once had an argument with a colleague over sentence structures and how certain words and phrases should be signed. “I feel like I’m stuck here,” she says.

“This is not the case in America. There, everyone speaks uniformed ASL; everyone is equal,” Geraldine says of her experience when she was in Washington D.C, USA, last July to visit Gallaudet University. “If I was young now, I would have preferred to move to America. But I’ve lived here my whole life already and so I feel safer here.”

She added, “I was so impressed with Gallaudet. Even the hearing officers can sign with the deaf. In comparison, the SADeaf hearing officers, especially the higher-ups in the association, cannot sign.

This is when interpreters come in. As American deaf teacher, Susan Elliott, said, “Having certified interpreters is so important because they are the mouthpiece for these children, and they serve as language models.”

(To read more about Susan Elliott, click here and here.)

It is often difficult for the deaf to land jobs in Singapore because of discrimination from employers, and they have a generally lower pay either due to discrimination or lack of skills from low education. Only a small percentage of the deaf in Singapore are degree holders. There is no local university specially catered to the deaf and they seldom have the financial backing to afford travelling overseas to further their studies.

Taking all these into account, the deaf can hardly afford the money to pay for interpreters when they require one. Interpreters’ rate are estimated at SGD$10 per hour.

“I just wish the hearing can learn sign language. They will get to know the deaf better, and with that the deaf will also get more exposure and learn through different experiences,” Geraldine says.

Echoing Susan’s call when she was in Singapore this year, Geraldine also urges the government to look into providing Video Relay Systems (VRS) and TV Closed Captions (CC) such as the ones already existing in USA. She also urges the government to consider giving transport subsidies for the Deaf.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Indonesia

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations

The Miss Universe Organization severs ties with Indonesia franchise due to harassment claims. Malaysia edition canceled.

Women allege body checks before pageant. Investigation launched. Safety prioritized.

Indonesia winner to compete in November finale. Height requirement controversy.

Published

1 year ago

on

14 August 2023

By

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition.

In the complaint, more than a half dozen women said all 30 finalists for Miss Universe Indonesia were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check for scars and cellulite two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta.

Their lawyer said Tuesday that five of the women had their pictures taken.

“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics, or expectations,” the US-based Miss Universe Organization posted Saturday night on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It said that it had “decided to terminate the relationship with its current franchise in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.”

It thanked the contestants for their bravery in coming forward and added that “providing a safe place for women” was the organization’s priority.

Jakarta police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said Tuesday that an investigation into the women’s complaint has been launched.

The Indonesia franchise also holds the license for Miss Universe Malaysia, where there will no longer be a competition this year, according to the New York-based parent organizer.

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Indonesia franchise director Capella denied involvement in any body checks.

“I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the process of organizing Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she wrote.

She added that she is against “any form of violence or sexual harassment.”

The Jakarta competition was held from 29 July to 3 August to choose Indonesia’s representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Miss Universe said it would make arrangements for her to compete in the finale, scheduled for November in El Salvador.

This year’s Indonesia pageant also came under fire for announcing a “significant change in this (year’s) competition guidelines” with the elimination of its minimum height requirement after it had crowned a winner.

In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said it wanted to “make it extremely clear that there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide.”

— AFP

Continue Reading

Malaysia

A Perodua service centre in Kuantan, Malaysia went viral for its strict dress code, Perodua responds

A dress code for vehicle servicing? A Malaysian car brand’s service centre dress code signage has puzzled netizens, raising queries about the need for attire rules during a routine service.

The manufacturer responded with an official statement after a flurry of comments, seeking to clarify and apologize.

Published

1 year ago

on

10 August 2023

By

MALAYSIA: A dress code signage positioned at a service centre belonging to a prominent Malaysian car brand has sparked bewilderment among Malaysian netizens, who question the necessity of adhering to attire guidelines for a simple vehicle servicing.

The signage explicitly delineates clothing items that are deemed unsuitable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, abbreviated pants, and distressed jeans.

The car manufacturer swiftly found itself flooded with comments from both inquisitive and irked Malaysian netizens. This surge in online activity prompted the company to issue an official statement aimed at clarifying the situation and extending an apology.

In a post that gained significant traction on the social media platform, politician Quek Tai Seong of Pahang State, Malaysia, shared an image to Facebook on Monday (7 Aug).

The image showcased a dress code sign prominently displayed at a Perodua Service Centre in Kuantan. Within the post, Quek posed the question: “Is this dress code applicable nationwide, or is it specific to this branch?”

The signage reads, “All customers dealing with Perodua Service Kuantan 1, Semambu, are requested to dress modestly and appropriately.”

Adding visual clarity to these guidelines, the sign features illustrative graphics that explicitly outline clothing items deemed unacceptable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, short pants, and ripped jeans.

Delineating the specifics of the dress code, the signage stipulates that male visitors are expected to don shirts accompanied by neckties, opt for long pants, and wear closed shoes.

Conversely, female visitors are advised to don long-sleeved shirts, full-length skirts, and closed-toe footwear.

Perodua’s dress code sparks online uproar

Following the rapid spread of the post, Perodua’s official Facebook page found itself inundated with comments from both intrigued and frustrated Malaysian netizens, all seeking clarifications about the newly surfaced dress code policy.

Amidst the flurry of comments, numerous incensed netizens posed pointed questions such as, “What is the rationale behind the introduction of such regulations by the management? We demand an explanation.”

Another netizen expressed their dissatisfaction, arguing against the necessity of the rule and urging Perodua to take inspiration from the practices of other 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts, and Survey) automotive dealerships.

A concerned Facebook user chimed in, advocating for a more lenient stance, asserting that attempting to dictate customers’ clothing choices might not be in the company’s best interest.

Someone also commented in an angry tone, “Oi what is this? Going there for car service, not interview or working, right.”

As the discourse unfolded, it became evident that while some inquiries carried genuine weight, others chose to inject humor into the situation, playfully remarking, “If I wanted to buy a Myvi, I should buy or rent a formal attire first.”

“I sell economy rice at a hawker centre, I have never worn a long sleeve shirt and a tie… I guess I will not buy a Perodua car then.”

“I guess they will not serve those who wear short pants.”

Perodua addresses dress code controversy

As reported by Chinese media outlet Sin Chew Daily News, the manager of Kuantan’s Perodua Service Centre had acknowledged that the images on the dress code signage were misleading.

In response, the manager divulged that discussions had transpired with the head office, leading to the prompt removal of the signage to prevent any further misconceptions.

The manager clarifies, “We do encourage visitors to adhere to the dress etiquette, but we won’t go to the extent of restricting their choice of attire.”

He also revealed that currently, no complaints have been directly received from the public.

However, feedback from certain customers was relayed through Perodua’s agents.

Perodua also released an official statement by chief operating officer JK Rozman Jaffar on Wednesday (9 Aug) regarding the dress code on their official Facebook page.

The statement stated the dress code etiquette is not aligned with their official guidelines and they are currently conducting an official investigation on the matter followed by corrective measures to avoid the same incident from happening.

Perodua also extends its apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

Continue Reading

Trending