May 9-15 is NZSL Week, which celebrates that New Zealand Sign Language has been an official language since 2006.
NZSL has definitely risen in profile over the past couple of years, partly due to the visibility of interpreters at the daily COVID briefings. However, it is still an endangered language.
The theme this year is “NZSL is essential”.
It is essential for:
- Being understood and accepted
- Talking about thoughts, feelings and aspirations,
- Connecting with others.