Let's Standardize Sign Language Expressions for 'Sudogwon' and 'COVID-19 Suspects'

Ministry of Culture and National Institute of Korean Language Announce Recommended Sign Language Expressions

Recommended Sign Language Expressions for the 'Sudogwon' Region

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute of the Korean Language announced recommended sign language expressions for ‘Sudogwon’ (the Seoul metropolitan area) and ‘(suspected cases of) COVID-19’ on the 6th. These two terms have been frequently used recently, but various expressions have been mixed, causing difficulties in accurate communication.

For ‘Sudogwon,’ a sign language expression depicting Seoul and its surrounding areas was adopted as the recommended form. For ‘suspected cases,’ since it can be used in various contexts, the recommended sign combines the expressions for ‘COVID-19’ and ‘to suspect someone’ to specifically represent a person suspected of being infected with COVID-19.

Recommended Sign Language Expression for '(COVID-19) Suspected Case'

The recommendations were prepared by the New Sign Language Group established in March. This organization consists of sign language experts including representatives from the Korea Deaf Association, sign language interpreters (public sign language interpreters and interpreters for the hearing impaired), sign language teachers, and linguistics specialists. They collect and review sign language expressions from the deaf community.

The new sign language expressions will be used in government announcements (briefings) and other contexts. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute of the Korean Language will continue to investigate the status of sign language use and select and distribute sign language expressions that have the potential for widespread use.

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