The community of deaf and mute residents of Ukraine is trying to “derussify” the sign language in which they communicate. The Ukrainian portal The Kyiv Independent writes about this.
In particular, Natalya Adanyuk, a member of the expert commission of the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf, said that all gestures that have at least some relation to Russia are being removed from the language. For example, instead of the Russian gesture of gratitude, which looks like a bow, she strongly recommends using the international designation – touching the chin with the fingers of a straightened hand and moving the fingers to the interlocutor to whom gratitude is expressed.
According to her, the replacement is necessary because “Ukrainians should not bow to anyone.”
Adanyuk also claims that the replacement of “Russian” gestures is asked by deaf-mute Ukrainians themselves, who “don’t want to have anything to do with Russians,” and therefore skip some gestures in the dialogue instead of using familiar symbols.
However, Adanyuk announced the introduction of a new gesture associated with Russia – “derussification.” It looks like the letter “P” rolled from the fingers, which is then “swept away.”
“Demonstrating this gesture, she grins, fully aware that Ukrainians take pleasure in “sweeping Russia away” like a beetle or lint.“, the interviewer comments on the explanation given by Adanyuk.
However, in the same article, representatives of the deaf community in Ukraine complain that the country’s authorities do not pay enough attention to solving their problems and caring for them. Thus, the office of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky does not provide sign language translation of his speeches.
Earlier in Kyiv, a taxi driver was fired because of female passengers who caused a scandal because of his use of the Russian language.
