Rare language fact file: Adamorobe Sign Language
Native to: Adamorobe village, Ghana
Number of native speakers: 35
Spoken by: Adamorobe villagers
Learn some: You can learn how to sign the days of the week with this YouTube video.
Interesting facts:
- Adamorobe has a much higher incidence of deafness than the rest of Ghana. This stands now at roughly 2% of the population (compared to 0.4% in the continent of Africa as a whole), but in the past at a much higher percentage – some sources giving it as high as 25%. Researchers have identified a mutated gene that is responsible for this, which has been passed down through generations.
- The village developed its own sign language, which is completely distinct from the official Ghanaian Sign Language. In order for Adamorobe’s deaf population to be fully integrated into village life, everyone, hearing or deaf, uses Adamorobe Sign Language.
- As with all minority languages, Adamorobe Sign Language is now under threat from more dominant ones. Deaf children in the village are now sent to school at Ghana’s boarding school for the deaf, where they learn the official Ghanaian Sign Language, alongside written English.
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The news was broadly good; business has remained buoyant following the initial lockdown. There has been less innovation than before the pandemic, possibly reflected by the anxiety many organisations feel about the future. However, market growth for the last financial year is expected to be similar to that pre-covid, demonstrating the resilience of the European language industry and the ever-present demand for international communication.
Read about the results in more detail here.
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UK language industry health check tells a positive story
The Association of Translation Companies has published research into the performance of the UK language industry in 2021, revealing a very positive picture, despite the dual impact of Brexit and Covid-19.
While very few businesses have thrived in the last 18 months, the research suggests language service providers have generally made good decisions and showed the kind of flexibility that has served them and their customers well; for example, 56% of companies have recorded growth.
This is certainly our experience at The Language Shop, and it seems we are reflected in the ATC’s comments: “What truly stands out in this year’s survey is the robust and scrappy mid-market segment which makes up the bulk of the UK language services industry. Companies have largely been pushing the right buttons, focusing on their areas of expertise and making smart use of language technology to service their clients.”
To read the whole report, click here.
Keep up to date with all our latest news here and on social media – we are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Language industry remains buoyant despite pandemic
Slator, which provides intelligence on the language industry, has reported a huge surge in bookings in the last months of 2021.
The Language Industry Job Index (LIJI) was launched in July 2018, and has recorded growth of 65 points since then. A vast 55 points have been recorded since the beginning of 2021, bringing the index to its highest point ever.
This is encouraging news for the language industry, which has weathered the pandemic. We hope to see this trend continue in 2022!
Read about this in more detail at slator.com.
Keep up to date with all our latest news here and on social media – we are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
