Sign Language Translator

2130138 Siwen Mohapatra

2130150 Subhasish Sahoo
2130153 Suyash Parganiha
2130160 Sai Sritam Sarangi
Group No 39

Guided by: Asst. Prof. Princy Sharma

School of Electronics Engineering , Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology(KIIT)

1. Abstract

Sign language is a fundamental communication tool for individuals with hearing or speech
impairments. However, due to limited knowledge of sign language among the general public, a
significant communication gap exists. This project aims to bridge that gap by developing a deep
learning-based sign language translator capable of recognizing hand gestures and converting them
into both textual and audible outputs. The system employs Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)
for gesture recognition from real-time webcam inputs. The recognized sign is converted into text,
which is subsequently transformed into speech using a text-to-speech (TTS) module. Additionally,
a speech-to-text (STT) feature is integrated to allow communication in the reverse direction,
enabling real-time interaction between signers and non-signers.

The model is trained using a publicly available dataset containing static images of American Sign
Language (ASL) alphabets. Pre-processing techniques like resizing, normalization, and
augmentation are applied to enhance the dataset's variability and improve model generalization. The
final model achieves high accuracy in classifying sign gestures and is implemented into a real-time,
user-friendly application. The system is designed to be cost-effective, eliminating the need for gloves
or sensors, and can be used in various settings such as education, public services, and healthcare.
This technology not only fosters inclusivity but also enhances the independence of differently-abled
individuals in a digitally advancing society.

2. INTRODUCTION

Effective communication is essential for human connection, collaboration, and integration into
society. For people with hearing or speech impairments, sign language is a crucial medium of
expression. Despite its importance, a lack of general awareness and understanding of sign language
has made it difficult for such individuals to communicate freely with others. This often results in
exclusion from essential services, limited job opportunities, and social isolation.

With rapid advancements in technology, especially in the domains of Artificial Intelligence and
Deep Learning, new solutions are emerging to address these challenges. In particular, Convolutional
Neural Networks (CNNs) have revolutionized the field of image classification and recognition. This
project leverages CNNs to develop a sign language translator that operates in real time, converting
hand gestures into text and voice output. The intention is to create a seamless communication bridge
between the hearing-impaired community and the general population. Unlike traditional systems
that require gloves or external sensors, this project relies solely on visual input, making it more
accessible and user-friendly.
 3. OBJECTIVE AND SOCIETAL IMPACT

The primary objective of this project is to design and implement an intelligent, real-time sign
language recognition system using advanced deep learning methodologies. The core aim is to enable
seamless communication between individuals who rely on sign language and those who do not
understand it. The system is engineered to accurately identify static hand gestures that represent
alphabets or signs from a sign language system, such as American Sign Language (ASL). These
gestures are processed using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), which are capable of
extracting meaningful features from visual data. The recognized gesture is converted into
corresponding text and further transformed into audible speech using a Text-to-Speech (TTS)
engine. This conversion facilitates one-way communication where the signer can effectively express
themselves to a non-signer.

An equally important component of the system is the inclusion of a reverse communication

mechanism. By integrating a Speech-to-Text (STT) module, the system allows non-signers to
communicate verbally, with their spoken words being transcribed into text in real-time. This feature
enhances the interactivity of the system and supports two-way conversations. As a result, the
communication gap between hearing-impaired individuals and the broader community is
substantially narrowed, promoting smoother interpersonal interactions and fostering mutual
understanding.

The societal impact of this project is both far-reaching and transformative. For individuals with
hearing or speech impairments, communication has often been a barrier that leads to isolation,
dependency, and limited participation in mainstream activities. By providing a digital solution that
bridges the gap between sign language and spoken/written language, the system empowers these
individuals with greater independence and confidence. It allows them to engage more freely in
educational settings, professional environments, healthcare consultations, and social interactions
without the constant need for human interpreters or assistance.

In the long run, innovations like this can contribute to reducing social stigma and encouraging
empathy. When communication becomes effortless, society becomes more accepting and
accommodating. This project, therefore, stands as not only a technological achievement but also a
step toward a more compassionate and inclusive world. Its implementation can inspire further
research and development in the field of assistive technology, motivating technologists, educators,
and policymakers to collaborate in creating environments where every individual, regardless of
ability, can thrive

4. METHODOLOGY AND SYSTEM DESIGN

The system is developed using a combination of image processing and deep learning techniques.
Initially, a suitable dataset was identified to train the model. A publicly available American Sign
Language (ASL) dataset comprising images of static hand gestures was selected. This dataset
includes multiple classes, each representing a different alphabet. To ensure consistency in input, all
images were resized to a standard dimension. Pixel normalization was applied to scale image
intensity values, and data augmentation techniques such as rotation, flipping, and zooming were
used to introduce diversity in the training data, reducing overfitting and improving model
robustness.

The core of the system is a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), a type of neural network highly
effective for visual recognition tasks. The network comprises multiple convolutional layers to
extract features, followed by max pooling layers to reduce dimensionality, dropout layers to prevent
 overfitting, and fully connected layers to map the features to output classes. The final layer uses
softmax activation to classify the image into one of the predefined sign language categories. The
model is trained using the Adam optimizer and categorical cross-entropy as the loss function.
Training and validation accuracies are monitored to ensure the model generalizes well.

Once trained, the model is integrated with a webcam interface to capture real-time hand gestures.
The recognized sign is translated into text, which is then vocalized using a text-to-speech module.
To support communication in the opposite direction, the system also includes a speech-to-text
module that processes verbal input and displays it as readable text. This bi-directional
communication feature makes the system more interactive and practical for real-world use.

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The trained CNN model demonstrated high accuracy, achieving over 95% validation accuracy on
the ASL alphabet dataset. It was able to accurately classify hand gestures under different lighting
conditions and with varying backgrounds. During real-time testing, the system was successful in
recognizing static signs using a standard webcam. The output text was generated with minimal delay
and was correctly converted into speech using the integrated TTS engine.

The inclusion of the STT module allowed users to speak into the microphone, with the system
transcribing their speech into text in real time. This feature significantly enhanced the usability of
the translator by enabling two-way communication. While the system excelled in recognizing static
gestures, it showed some limitations with ambiguous or dynamic gestures. Occasionally, gestures
with partial occlusion or non-standard hand shapes led to misclassifications. However, with further
training on larger and more diverse datasets, these challenges can be addressed.

The results indicate that the system is not only functional but also practical for day-to-day use. It
represents a step forward in assistive technology by providing an affordable, sensor-free solution to
bridge the communication divide between hearing-impaired individuals and the rest of society.

6. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

In conclusion, this project successfully demonstrates the implementation of a deep learning-based

real-time sign language translator. By using Convolutional Neural Networks and image processing
techniques, the system is capable of recognizing hand gestures, converting them into text, and
producing audible speech output. The additional incorporation of speech-to-text functionality makes
the system interactive and practical for two-way communication. The model is efficient, cost-
effective, and user-friendly, requiring only a camera to function, thus eliminating the need for
specialized hardware like gloves or sensors.

For future improvements, the system can be extended to support dynamic gestures that involve hand
movement across frames. This would require incorporating models capable of processing temporal
data, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks or 3D CNNs. Additionally, support for
full sentence construction, multiple sign language dialects, and integration with mobile platforms
would greatly increase the system’s utility and accessibility. Another important area of development
is improving the contextual understanding of gestures using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to
provide more accurate and meaningful translations. Continued research and development can
transform this prototype into a powerful tool that facilitates seamless communication and fosters
greater inclusion of the differently-abled in society.
 7. REFERENCES
1. Kaur, P., Sharma, R., & Gupta, A. (2021). "Sign Language Recognition Using Convolutional
Neural Networks." *International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research*, 15(3), 45-56.
2. Sharma, D., & Gupta, S. (2022). "LSTM-Based Dynamic Gesture Recognition for Sign
Language Translation." *IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks*, 34(2), 102-115.
3. Zhao, L., Chen, W., & Li, X. (2023). "Hybrid CNN-RNN Models for Real-Time Sign Language
Recognition." *Computer Vision Journal*, 28(4), 125-140.
4. World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). "Hearing Loss and Communication Challenges:
Global Statistics and Solutions."
5. OpenCV Documentation. (2023). "Real-Time Image Processing Techniques for Gesture
Recognition.

Roll Number Name Signature

2130138 Siwen Mohapatra
2130150 Subhasish Sahoo
2130153 Suyash Parganiha
2130160 Sai Sritam Sarangi

Name of Supervisor Asst. Prof. Princy Sharma

Signature of Supervisor