Article published In: Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 41:2 (2017) ► pp.136–158
Buttering their bread on both sides?
The recognition of sign languages and the aspirations of deaf communities
Published online: 27 October 2017
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.41.2.04dem
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.41.2.04dem
Abstract
In the past two decades, a wave of campaigns to recognise sign languages have taken place in numerous countries. These campaigns sought official recognition of national sign languages, with the aim of enhancing signers’ social mobility and protecting the vitality of sign languages. These activities differ from a long history of sign language planning from a ‘language as a problem’ approach largely used by educators and policymakers to date. However, the instrumental rights and social mobility obtained as a result have thus far been limited with educational linguistic and language acquisition rights especially lacking. This article identifies two reasons for this situation. First, a view of Sign Language Peoples (SLPs) from a medical perspective has led to confusion about the meaning of linguistic rights for them and led governments to treat sign language planning differently than that for spoken languages. Furthermore, SLPs political participation is hindered by recognition being offered by governments without substantial commitments to financial resources, changes in government practices or greater inclusion of sign languages in public life. One exception to this trend are sign language planning bodies, but even these face challenges in the implementation phase. Going forward, we argue that sign language recognition legislation should centre on deaf communities’ concerns regarding sign language vitality. In addition to a need to ensure acquisition for deaf signers, we contend that while the expansion of hearing (and deaf) new signers can be interpreted in terms of language endangerment it can also be seen as strengthening sign languages’ vitality.
Abstract (Dutch)
Van twee walletjes eten? De erkenning van gebarentalen en de aspiraties van dovengemeenschappen
De laatste twintig jaar hebben er in heel wat landen campagnes plaatsgevonden om gebarentalen te erkennen. Deze campagnes streefden naar de officiële erkenning van nationale gebarentalen met als doel de sociale mobiliteit van gebarentaligen te doen stijgen, en de vitaliteit van gebarentalen te beschermen. Ze verschillen van een lange geschiedenis van gebarentaalplanning, voornamelijk door onderwijskundigen en beleidsmakers, vanuit een ‘taal als probleem’-aanpak. Desondanks zijn de instrumentele rechten en sociale mobiliteit als gevolg van deze campagnes beperkt gebleven, waarbij vooral het ontbreken van onderwijstaalrechten en taalverwervingsrechten opmerkelijk is. Dit artikel identificeert twee redenen voor deze situatie. Ten eerste heeft de medische visie op gebarentaligen geleid tot verwarring over de betekenis van taalrechten voor deze groep, en als gevolg gehad dat overheden gebarentaalplanning anders benaderden dan planning voor gesproken talen. Daarenboven wordt de politieke participatie van gebarentaligen verhinderd door overheden die erkenning aanbieden zonder substantiële financiële inspanningen, veranderingen in overheidspraktijken en zonder toenemende inclusie van gebarentalen in het openbare leven. Eén uitzondering op deze trend zijn organen die aan gebarentaalplanning doen, maar zelfs zij krijgen te maken met uitdagingen wanneer wetgeving geïmplementeerd moet worden. Dit gezegd hebbende argumenteren we dat gebarentaalerkenningswetgeving zou moeten focussen op bezorgdheden van dovengemeenschappen omtrent de vitaliteit van gebarentalen. Aanvullend op de noodzaak aan het verzekeren van gebarentaalverwerving voor dove kinderen en jongeren argumenteren we dat de toename van horende “nieuwe gebaarders” van gebarentalen zowel geïnterpreteerd kan worden in termen van taalbedreiging als in termen van een versterking van de vitaliteit van gebarentalen.
Resumo
Buterumi la panon je ambaŭ flankoj? Rekonado de gestolingvoj kaj la aspiroj de surdulaj komunumoj
En la pasintaj du jardekoj, ondo de kampanjoj por rekono de gestolingvoj ekaperis en multaj landoj. Tiuj kampanjoj serĉis oficialan rekonon de naciaj gestolingvoj, cele al plifortigo de la socia moveblo de gestantoj kaj protekto de la vivipovo de gestolingvoj. Tia agado malsimilas la longan historion de gestolingva planado surbaze de “lingvo kiel problemo” ĝis tiam larĝe aplikatan de edukistoj kaj politikoformulantoj. Tamen, la instrumentaj rajtoj kaj socia moveblo ĝis nun atingitaj estas nur limigitaj, kaj aparte mankas lingvoedukaj kaj lingvoakiraj rajtoj. La artikolo distingas du kialojn de tiu situacio. Unue, identigo de Gestolingvaj Popoloj (GLP) el medicina perspektivo kreis konfuzon pri la signifo de lingvorajtoj por tiuj grupoj kaj igis registarojn trakti gestolingvan planadon alimaniere ol ili traktas parolajn lingvojn. Krome, la politika partopreno de GLP-oj estas malhelpata de la realoj, ke registaroj ofte proponas rekonon sen samtempe doni signifajn financajn resursojn, ke registaraj praktikoj ŝanĝiĝas, kaj ke gestolingvoj estas pli ofte enkadrigitaj en la publika vivo. Unu escepto al tiu emo estas instancoj por gestolingva planado, sed eĉ tiaj instancoj frontas defiojn en la realiga stadio. Ni argumentas, ke, estontece, leĝfarado pri rekono de gestolingvoj centriĝu je la zorgoj de surdulaj komunumoj pri la vivipovo de gestolingvoj. Aldone al la neceso garantii akiron al surdaj gestantoj L1, ni pretendas, ke, kvankam ekspansio de la nombro de aŭdkapablaj gestolingvaj uzantoj L2 estas interpretebla en la kunteksto de lingva endanĝerigo, oni povas ankaŭ konsideri ĝin indiko de gestolingva vivoforto.
Article outline
- Language planning and sign language recognition
- Desired outcomes of sign language recognition
- Barriers to successful sign language recognition legislation
- The deficit frame
- Political participation
- Ways forward: The vitality of sign languages
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
References
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