Sathien Viriyapanpongsa,
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Nation Published on Jan 29, 2008

Viewers watching the parliamentary session on Channel 11 yesterday were left in little doubt as to how "signers" referred to prime minister-elected Samak Sundaravej - they touched their noses.

For Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, they moved their hands around their faces and raised their thumbs up.

Sign language interpreter Kanitha Rattanasint, 45, said the special signs were meant as a convenience for the deaf.

Names in sign language are indicated by facial characteristics and personalities of the person. They are sometimes presented using the Thai alphabet for the names.

But Samak is so famous among the deaf, they take the nose as meaning Samak as his most prominent facial feature is his proboscis.

The deaf also think Abhisit has an attractive face, she said.

Half a raised thumb is for the Thai alphabet's "Or Ang", the first letter in Abhisit's name.

Interpreters need to ask the deaf how they refer to politicians, Kanitha said.

Interpreters working at Parliament also work at the National Association of the Deaf (NADT), where they meet some of their audiences.

The hand raising with the thumb and index finger making an "L" shape pointing upwards means former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The action also came from his poster during campaigning.

The raised front hair hairstyle means former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, she said.

Khunying Pojaman, who also has her front hair raised, had no sign name.

She is referred toas Thaksin's wife.

Kanitha, who has been signing for 20 years said she and her team were the pioneers in interpreting parliamentary meetings six years ago.

At that time Thaksin was the prime minister while Uthai Pimchaichon was the House speaker.

Samak and Abhisit are well-known among the deaf for their name signs, she said.

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has a sign name for wearing glasses with a chubby face while former prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa is referred to as having a small build with "B" and "H" characters.

Yongyuth Tiyapairat is not so well-known to carry a sign.

He is currently called House Speaker in sign language. It may take some time before they decide how to refer him, otherwise interpreters will have to spell out his name like those less known to the deaf, she said.

The difficult names this time are those of the new parties.

The Democrat sign is "Mother Earth squeezing her hair" just like the party's logo.

PPP is currently called "Por Por Chor (PPP)".

The team also includes Juthamas Suthonwattanacharoen, 35, and Kanya Sae-eung, 45.

On days when meetings last for many hours, the association sends another interpreter to help. Generally they are kept very busy as there are only 30 professional interpreters nationwide.

Unlike interpreting for other events, Juthamas said the challenge of covering Parliament was that they had no way of knowing ahead what will be said.

They have to follow political news to make sense when MPs talk or attack others using sarcasm, she said.

Interpreters do not have to translate everything but they are expected relay meaning and feeling, she said.

Each interpreter needs to take a break every 20 minutes to rest up.

Juthamas said people in their audience often send her SMS messages to express their appreciation for the service.