Cover not available

In:Endangered Languages and Languages in Danger: Issues of documentation, policy, and language rights
Edited by Luna Filipović and Martin Pütz
[IMPACT: Studies in Language, Culture and Society 42] 2016
► pp. 87–114

Get fulltext
PDF logo with download linkDownload Chapter PDF

Towards language planning for sign languages

Measuring endangerment and the treatment of British Sign Language

 | Deaf Ex-Mainstreamers' Group Ltd | DEXperience, United Kingdom
Open Access logo
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Published online: 3 October 2016
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/impact.42.05jon
Sign languages are well researched autochthonous, bio-culturally diverse, visio-­spatial languages, both linguistically and neurologically. They confer identity and form new minorities within complex social systems. The continuity of their ethnolinguistic heritages are endangered as replacement levels fall due to the fact that sign languages are not traditionally considered to be mother tongue languages, since most deaf children are born to hearing parents who do not sign, although theoretically they are. A longstanding international discourse since 1880 when sign language was banned in education was due to the supposed effect sign languages have on spoken language acquisition for deaf children. This ethos continues to modern day, with few parents of deaf children being informed about sign language or offered instruction, or it being used as a teaching medium for their child. This signifies the linguistic imperialism that stems from ignorance of modern research, and surdism (in which deaf people are normalised to be as hearing as possible). All the countries which have implemented sign language legislation fall short of revitalisation since there is no promotion to all parents of deaf children. This study demonstrates that the resulting extremely low number of new learners means British Sign Language (BSL) can be categorised as a severely endangered language. This paper applies spoken language planning theory and methodology to British Sign Language, taking into account the discrete political environments in the UK and history of spoken language revival. It is a rationale view of BSL, and other sign languages, as requiring immediate intervention, against the backdrop of English (and spoken language generally) being the language of oppression.
References (74)
References
Austrian Sign Language recognition. <[URL]>
Bess, F. & Tharpe, A. 1986. Case history data on unilaterally hearing-impaired children. Ear and Hearing 7: 14–19. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1988. Performance and management of children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Scandinavian Audiology. Supplementum 30: 75–79.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bess, F.H., Dodd-Murphy, J. & Parker, R.A. 1998. Children with minimal sensorineural hearing loss: Prevalence, educational performance, and functional status. Ear and Hearing Journal 19: 339–354. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Blair, J., Peterson, M. & Viehwed, S. 1985. The effects of mild sensorineural hearing loss on academic performance of young school-age children. The Volta Review 87: 87–93.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bourland, C.H. & Tharpe, A.M. 1994. Listening effort and fatigue in school-age children with and without hearing loss. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research 37: 216–226. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bovo, R., Martini, A., Agnoletto, M., Beghi, D., Carmignoto, D., Milani, M. & Zangaglia, A.M. 1988. Auditory and academic performance of children with unilateral hearing loss. Scandinavian Audiology. Supplementum 30: 71–74.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Branson, J. & Miller, D. 2008. National Sign Languages and Language Policies. In Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd edition, Volume 1: Policy and Political Issues in Education, Stephen May & Nancy H. Hornberger (eds), 151–165. Berlin: Springer. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brookhouser, P.E., Worthington, D.W. & Kelly, W.J. 1991. Unilateral hearing loss in children. Laryngoscope 101: 1264–1272. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
BSL Corpus Project. <[URL]>
Calderon, R. & Greenberg, M. 2000. Challenges to parents and professionals in promoting socioemotional development in deaf children. In The Deaf Child in the Family and at School, P.E. Spencer, C.J. Erting & M. Marschark (eds). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Campbell, R., Brammer, M., Calvert, G., David, A., MacSweeney, M. & Woll, B. 2000. Language, deafness and the brain: fMRI findings. International Journal of Psychology 35(3): 225–226.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Colomer, J.M. 1996. La utilitat del bilinguisme. Barcelona: Edicions 62.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Consortium of Research in Deaf Education. 2012. Survey. <[URL]>Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Culbertson, J.L. & Gilbert, L.E. 1986. Children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss: Cognitive, academic, and social development. Ear and Hearing 7: 38–42. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Davis, J.M., Elfenbein, J., Schum, R. & Bentler, R.A. 1986. Effects of mild and moderate hearing impairments on language, educational, and psychosocial behavior of children. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders 51: 53–62. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Davis, A., Reeve, K. & Hind, S.B.J. 2000. Children with mild and unilateral hearing loss. In A Sound Foundation through Early Amplification 2001: Proceedings of the Second International Conference, R.C. Seewald & J.S. Gravel (eds), 179–186. Bury St. Edmunds: St. Edmundsbury Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Deaf Ex-Mainstreamers Group. DEXperience. 2004. Deaf Toolkit: Best Value Review of Deaf Children in Education, from Users’ Perspective. Delta Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre University College London. <[URL]>
De Meulder, M. 2014. Whose Recognition? – The British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill. Ms. <[URL]>Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dorian, N.C. 1980. Language shift in community and individual: The phenomenon of the laggard semi-speaker. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 25: 85–94.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1981. Language Death: The Life Cycle of a Scottish Gaelic Dialect. Philadelphia PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Edwards, V. & Pritchard Newcombe, L. 2005. Language transmission in the family in Wales: An example of innovative language planning. Language Problems & Language Planning 29(2): 135–150. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
European Union. Resolution on sign languages for the deaf. Official Journal C 187. 18 July1988, 0236.
European Union of Deaf. 2005. The status of sign languages report.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Finitzo, T., Albright, K. & O’Neal, J. 1998. The newborn with hearing loss: Detection in the nursery. Paediatrics 102: 1452–1459. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fishman, J.A. 1991. Reversing Language Shift: Theory and Practice of Assistance to Threatened Languages. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2001. Can Threatened Languages be Saved? Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gruffud, H. 2000. Planning for the use of Welsh by young people. In Language Revitalization: Policy and Planning in Wales, C.H. Williams (ed.), 173–207. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hansard. UK Government. UK Parliamentary records. 2003. 18 March 2003. <[URL]>.
Hindley, P.A., Hill, P.D., McGuigan, S. & Kitson, N. 1994. Psychiatric disorder in deaf and hearing impaired children and young people: A prevalence study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 35(5): 917–934. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Johnston, T. 2004. W(h)ither the deaf community? Population, genetics, and the future of Australian sign language. American Annals of Deaf 148(5): 358–375. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kaplan, R.B. & Baldauf, R.B. 1997. Language Planning from Practice to Theory. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Klee, T.M. & Davis-Dansky, E. 1986. A comparison of unilaterally hearing-impaired children and normal-hearing children on a battery of standardized language tests. Ear and Hearing 7: 27–37. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ladd, P. 2003. Understanding Deaf Culture: In search of Deafhood. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lewis, M.P. & Simons, G.F. 2010. Assessing endangerment: Expanding Fishman’s GIDS. Revue Roumaine de Linguistique 2: 103–120.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lieu, J.E. 2004. Speech-language and educational consequences of unilateral hearing loss in children. Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 130: 524–530. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Marschark, M. & Spencer, P.E. 2009. Evidence of Best Practice Models and Outcomes in the Education of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children: An International Review. A report commissioned by the National Council for Special Education (Ireland).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mason, D.G. 1997. Mainstream education and deaf students. Canadian Annals of Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing 23.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meadow-Orlans, K.P., Mertens, D.M. & Sass-Lehrer, M.A. 2003. Hard of Hearing Children: Still Overlooked. Odyssey: Winter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2003. Parents and Their Deaf Children: The Early Years. Washington DC: Gallaudet University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mitchell, R.E. & Karchmer, M.A. 2002. Chasing the mythical ten percent: Parental hearing status of deaf and hard of hearing students in the United States. Washington DC: Gallaudet Research Institute, Gallaudet University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Moeller, P.M. 2000. Early intervention and language development in children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Paediatrics. <[URL]> Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Most, T., Ingber, S. & Heled-Ariam, E. 2011. Social competence, sense of loneliness, and speech intelligibility of young children with hearing loss in individual inclusion and group inclusion. Deaf Students and Deaf Education 17(2): 259–272. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nelde, P.H. 2002. Language contact. In The Oxford Handbook of Applied Linguistics, R.B. Kaplan (ed.), 325–334. Oxford: OUP. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
New Zealand Office for Disability Issues. 2011. Review of New Zealand Sign Language Act report.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nicolaisen, O., Trask, I., Skutnabb-Kangas, T. & Dunbar, R. 2005. Indigenous children’s education and indigenous languages. Expert paper 1 written for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. <[URL]>
Oyler, R.F. & Gross, S.R. 2000. Survey of educational preparation in paediatric audiology: A decade later. Communication Disorders Quarterly 21: 195–209. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Richardson, J.T.E., Marschark, M., Thomastine, S. & Sapere, P. 2010. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students’ Experiences in Mainstream and Separate Postsecondary Education. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 15(4): 358–382. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education, 1994. <[URL]>
Sarant, J. & Garrard, P. 2014. Parenting stress in parents of children with cochlear implants: Relationships among parent stress, child language, and unilateral versus bilateral implants. Deaf Students and Deaf Education 19(1): 85–106. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schein, J.D. 1996. The demography of deafness. In Understanding Deafness Socially, P.C. Higgins & J.E. Nash (eds), 21–43. Springfield OH: Charles C. Thomas.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Scottish parliament’s national plan for Gaelic. <[URL]> 13 October 2014.
Shirin, A., Jones, P., Luckner, J., Kreimeyer, K.H. & Reed, S. 2011. Social outcomes of students who are deaf and hard of hearing in general education classrooms. Academic Journal Article. Exceptional Children 77(4): 487–502.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. 1995. Linguistic human rights, past and present. In Linguistic Human Rights: Overcoming Linguistic Discrimination, T. Skutnab-Kangas & R. Philipson (eds), 71–110. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyer. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2000. Linguistic genocide in education – Or worldwide diversity and human rights? In English in International Deaf Communication [Linguistic Insights 72], C. Kellett Bidoli & E. Ochse (eds), 75–94. Bern: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2003. Language rights in a globalised world. Montreal, Canada: Plenary address at the World Federation of Deaf People conference.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. & Aikio-Puoskari, U. 2003. Exclusion or inclusion – Linguistic human rights for a linguistic minority, the Deaf Sign language users, and an indigenous people, the Saami. In Many Voices, One Vision: The Right to Communicate in Practice, P. Lee (ed.), 59–88. London: WACCGoogle Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. 2008. Bilingual education and Sign language as the mother tongue of Deaf children. In English in International Deaf Communication [Linguistic Insights 72], C. Kellett Bidoli & E. Ochse (eds), 75–94. Bern: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Strubell, M. 2001. Edit. In Reversing Language Shift: Theory and Practice of Assistance to Threatened Languages, J.A. Fishman (ed.), 260–283. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stokoe, W.C. 1960. Sign language structure: An outline of the visual communication systems of the American deaf, studies in linguistics: Occasional papers. Buffalo NY: Department of Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Buffalo.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Svartholm, K. 2006. Review of FinSSL – Finland Swedish sign language. Nordica, Department of Scandinavian Languages and Literature, University of Helsinki. Language and Style: Magazine for Swedish Language Research 16: 219–223.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swedish National Association for Deaf, Hearing-Impaired and Language Impaired Children. <[URL]>
The Council of Europe. Status of sign languages in Europe report in co-operation with the Committee on the Rehabilitation and Integration of People with disabilities. Edited by Council of Europe Publishing F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex. <[URL]>
Turner, G.H., 2009. Sign language planning: Pragmatism, pessimism and principles. Current Issues in Language Planning 10(3): 243–254. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Van Naarden, K., Decouflé, P. & Caldwell, K. 1999. Prevalence and characteristics of children with serious hearing impairment in metropolitan Atlanta, 1991–1993. Paediatrics 103: 570–575. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Vostanis, M., Hayes, M., Feu, D. & Warren, J. 1997. Detection of behavioural and emotional problems in deaf children and adolescents: Comparison of two rating scales. Child: Care, Health and Development 23(3): 233–246. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
UNESCO. 2003. Language Vitality and Endangerment. Document adopted by the International Expert Meeting on UNESCO Programme Safeguarding of Endangered Languages. <[URL]>
. 2009. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wheatley, M. & Pabsch, A. 2012. Sign Language Legislation in the European Union. Brussels: European Union of the Deaf.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Welsh Assembly. 2014. The Welsh Ministers’ response to the Welsh Language Commissioner’s standards reports and advice note. <[URL]>
Xie, Y.H., Potměšil, M. & Peters, B. 2014. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing in inclusive educational settings: A literature review on interactions with peers. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 19(4): 423–437. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yoshinaga-Itano, C., Sedey, A., Coulter, D.K. & Mehl, A.L. 1998. Language of early and later identified children with hearing loss. Pediatrics 103: 1161–1171. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Websites
Gregory, Susan. Date unknown. Schools for the Deaf. <[URL]>
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue