Animated Dictionary for the Deaf

In the near future, children that are either deaf or have a hearing impairment will have the opportunity to source a wide-ranging language dictionary made just for them. Thanks to an additional, recently announced business partnership between the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf and regional content producer, marblemedia; kids in need of their very own, online, interactive dictionary for American Sign Language (ASL), will get just what they need. The venture to create this online dictionary for deaf children is made possible by the Inukshuk Wireless Learning Plan Fund.

The interactive dictionary, currently pegged at becoming children's first animated American Sign Language dictionary, promises kids generally aged between five and seven-years-old a shared learning experience. The lexicon/glossary is likely to feature the animated hand-motions marblemedia used in designing a related project -- www.DeafPlanet.com. One of the aims of the animated sign language dictionary is to help deaf children become more independent in their ASL knowledge, without having to rely on adults for definitions.

"We have a long-standing history with the CCSD that started with our TV show and website for Deaf children – DeafPlanet," Mark Bishop, Partner and Executive Producer of marblemedia. "It is a pleasure to be able to collaborate with them again on such an inspiring and important project."

The Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf is a nonprofit organization representing more than 450,000 Canadians, acting as a point of convergence for those within the deaf and hearing communities. The Deaf Culture Center has spent nearly forty years enriching the educational and cultural relationship of individuals, deaf or hearing, and certainly intends to utilize the animated ASL dictionary to this creative extent. The Inukshuk Wireless Learning Plan Fund, from which this project will source partial funding, supports the development of new online learning content.

Production for the online animated dictionary will reportedly include work from South Africa-based 3D animator Braam Jordaan, whom himself is deaf. Jordaan was awarded a juried prize at the 2007 Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (SICAF) for directing a computer animated spot for the Endangered Wildlife Trust called "The Rubbish Monster" (2006). "We are engaging award-winning South African Deaf animator, Braam Jordaan and renowned ASL linguist, Dr. Sam Supalla to create what promises to be a revolutionary product," Dr. Anita Small, Co-Director of the Deaf Culture Center, Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, commented.

on marblemedia: marblemedia is a content creation company on the forefront of television and new media production, devoted to telling stories that entertain and engage audiences across all platforms. marblemedia is the recipient of the 2007 Lions Gate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award and the 2008 Canadian New Media Award for Company of the Year.