Hands off our language! : deaf sign language teachers' perspectives on sign language standardisation
In light of the absence of codified standard varieties of British Sign Language (BSL) and German Sign Language (Deutsche Gebclrdensprache, DGS), there have been repeated calls for the standardisation of both languages primarily from outside the deaf communities. The development of standard varieties has been suggested to facilitate political recognition and the establishment of linguistic norms which could enable sign language users to gain equal access to education, administration and commerce. Although frequently labelled as sociolinguistic enquiry, much research in standardisation and language planning displays a certain preference for investigating the linguistic aspects of language. Explicit discussion of social-theoretical perspectives is scarce. In order to address this imbalance, this study focuses on the social aspect of the subject matter by investigating the concept of sign language standardisation from the perspective of deaf sign language teachers. Taking a comparative approach, research findings are based on 17 in-depth interviews conducted in Germany and the UK which were analysed drawing on grounded theory. Participants in both countries conceptualised sign language standardisation predominantly
Eichmann, Hanna
British Sign Language
Hands off our language! : deaf sign language teachers' perspectives on sign language standardisation. In light of the absence of codified standard varieties of British Sign Language (BSL) and German Sign Language (Deutsche Gebclrdensprache, DGS), there have been repeated calls for the standardisation of both languages primarily from outside the deaf communities. The development of standard varieties has been suggested to facilitate political recognition and the establishment of linguistic norms which could enable sign language users to gain equal access to education, administration and commerce. Although frequently labelled as sociolinguistic enquiry, much research in standardisation and language planning displays a certain preference for investigating the linguistic aspects of language. Explicit discussion of social-theoretical perspectives is scarce. In order to address this imbalance, this study focuses on the social aspect of the subject matter by investigating the concept of sign language standardisation from the perspective of deaf sign language teachers. Taking a comparative approach, research findings are based on 17 in-depth interviews conducted in Germany and the UK which were analysed drawing on grounded theory. Participants in both countries conceptualised sign language standardisation predominantly
language deaf sign_language teacher perspective sign_language standardisation light absence codify standard_variety british_sign_language_bsl german sign_language repeat call standardisation languages primarily outside deaf community development standard_variety suggest facilitate political recognition establishment linguistic_norm could enable sign_language user gain equal access education administration commerce although frequently label sociolinguistic enquiry much standardisation language_planning display certain preference investigate linguistic aspect language explicit discussion social theoretical_perspective scarce order_address imbalance study_focus social_aspect subject_matter investigate concept sign_language standardisation perspective deaf sign_language teacher taking comparative finding base depth_interview conduct germany analyse draw ground_theory participants country conceptualise sign_language standardisation predominantly