'Sign language goes into print', Bay of Plenty Times, 14 February, 1998.

This landmark compilation provides the first full description of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) and was jointly sponsored by the Deaf Association of New Zealand and Wellington’s Victoria University.

It is the product of years of research and consultation with over 90 members of the deaf community and Deaf Associations.

For them, and the other 20,000 or more other people in New Zealand who use sign language daily, it is a real treasure.

This is especially so if you realise that this dictionary has its roots in the longstanding wish of many deaf New Zealanders to have a description of their own language which has been widely recognised only in the past decade.

The dictionary contains 4000 signs illustrated with line drawings by artist Shaun Fahey, deaf from birth and a fluent user of NZSL.

Each of these is accompanied by an index listing English translation and HamNoSys – a modern phonetic sign notation which provides a detailed description of signs.

This notation removes any possibility of misinterpretation of a sign but to a novice outsider it could initially seem confusing.

Unlike other dictionaries which are listed alphabetically, this uses handshape order with an index for easy reference.

Much attention has been given to providing thorough keys and glossaries and presenting material in a clear fashion.

Those who have worked long and hard to bring this dictionary to fruition should be proud of their achievements in helping to give sign language the recognition it deserves.