The PPP's upset, but the deaf defend the sign language they use to refer to Samak

Story by ANCHALEE KONGRUT and PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
If deaf people's way of referring to new Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej upsets members of the People Power party, then how about moving their hands in the act of cooking to symbolise the ''Cooking Prime Minister''? ''We've touched our nose in referring to Mr Samak for over a decade and never got any complaints.

There is no reason to change,'' said Anusorn Rattanasint, former president of the National Association of the Deaf in Thailand (NADT).

He was responding to a report that some PPP executives were irritated by the nose-pointing by translators during the live broadcast of the parliamentary session on Channel 11 when they referred to Mr Samak, who has a big, rose apple-shaped nose. Well, at least that's one description of it.

The NADT may have to hold meetings with deaf people nationwide to think up a new sign name for Mr Samak if the PPP gets really serious about the issue.

''Creating new signs makes it difficult for the deaf to communicate. But if we have to, new sign language representing the new prime minister may be the 'Cooking Prime Minister' as his television cooking show is popular and people recognise him as an honorary chef,'' he said.

When referring to Abhisit Vejjajiva, they move their hands around their faces and raise their thumbs. Interpreters insist they have used similar sign language names for both politicians for many years.

The sign language used often originates from the unique physical appearance of a person and is combined with the sign for the first letter of the name.

For instance, a raised thumb means Orr Ang, the first letter of Mr Abhisit's name. Moving the hands around the face means ''good looking'' _ which some, though not all, believe is Mr Abhisit's most memorable feature.

''Touching our nose does not mean there is something wrong with Mr Samak. It is just the way deaf people communicate and construct our language. We (the deaf) do not make fun of others' physical appearance,'' said Mr Anusorn.

Other politicians also have their sign language names. For instance, interpreters put their hands at shoulder level to refer to Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa, considered by many to be rather lacking in stature.

There is no mockery in deaf people's sign language, Mr Anusorn said.

While opponents of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra call him Na Liam or ''Square Face'', the deaf only raise the thumb and index fingers in an L-shape. The symbol comes from a gesture often used by the ex-premier.

Bangkok Post Wednesday January 30, 2008