Published by De Gruyter Mouton

Sign Languages and Deaf Communities [SLDC]

Edited by: Annika Herrmann and Markus Steinbach

ISSN: 2192-516X

e-ISSN 2192-5178

Overview
Volumes

Editorial board: Carlo Geraci, Rachel McKee, Victoria Nyst, Marianne Rossi Stumpf, Felix Sze, Sandra Wood

Over the past decades, the field of sign language linguistics has expanded considerably. Recent research on sign languages includes a wide range of subdomains such as reference grammars, theoretical linguistics, psycho- and neurolinguistics, sociolinguistics, and applied studies on sign languages and Deaf communities. The SLDC series is concerned with the study of sign languages in a comprehensive way, covering various theoretical, experimental, and applied dimensions of sign language research and their relationship to Deaf communities around the world. The series provides a multidisciplinary platform for innovative and outstanding research in sign language linguistics and aims at linking the study of sign languages to current trends in modern linguistics, such as new experimental and theoretical investigations, the importance of language endangerment, the impact of technological developments on data collection and Deaf education, and the broadening geographical scope of typological sign language studies, especially in terms of research on non-Western sign languages and Deaf communities.

Author / Editor information

Annika Herrmann, Hamburg University, Germany; Markus Steinbach, Göttingen University, Germany.

Book 2023

Person and Number

An Empirical Study of Catalan Sign Language Pronouns

Raquel Veiga Busto

Volume 18 in this series

More Cite

Person and number are two basic grammatical categories. However, they have not yet been exhaustively documented in many sign languages. This volume presents a thorough description of the form and interpretation of person and number in Catalan Sign Language (LSC) personal pronouns. This is the first book exploring together the two categories (and their interaction) in a sign language.
Building on a combination of elicitation methods and corpus data analysis, this book shows that person and number are encoded through a set of distinctive phonological features: person is formally marked through spatial features, and number by the path specifications of the sign. Additionally, this study provides evidence that the same number marker might have a different semantic import depending on the person features with which it is combined.
Results of this investigation contribute fresh data to cross-linguistic studies on person and number, which are largely based on evidence from spoken language only. Furthermore, while this research identifies a number of significant differences with respect to prior descriptions of person and number in other sign languages, it also demonstrates that, from a typological standpoint, the array of distinctions that LSC draws within each category is not exceptional.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110988956
ISBN:: 9783110988956
ISBN:: 9783110999662
ISBN:: 9783110989199
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
Subject:: Morphology
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: General Linguistics
Subject:: Linguistic Typology
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2023

Evaluative Constructions in Italian Sign Language (LIS)

A Multi-Theoretical Analysis

Elena Fornasiero

Volume 17 in this series

More Cite

The domain of evaluative morphology is vast and complex, as it requires the combination of morphological, semantic and pragmatic information to be understood. Nevertheless, cross-linguistic studies on spoken languages show that languages share some patterns in the way they encode evaluative features. It follows that investigating evaluative morphology in sign languages (SLs) can enrich the literature and offer new insights. This book provides descriptive and theoretical contributions by considering Italian Sign Language (LIS) as empirical ground of investigation. At the descriptive level, the analysis of corpus and elicited data improves the description of morphological processes in LIS, as well as typological studies on evaluative morphology by adding the patterns of a visuo-gestural language. At the theoretical level, the study shows the benefit of combining different approaches (Generative Linguistics, Linguistic Typology, Cognitive Linguistics) for the exploration of evaluative constructions in SLs, as it allows to identify both modality-specific and modality-independent properties.
In sum, this book encourages the readers to rely on different data types, analyses and theoretical perspectives to investigate linguistic phenomena in SLs.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110783445
ISBN:: 9783110783445
ISBN:: 9783110783506
ISBN:: 9783110783391
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
Subject:: Morphology
Subject:: Phonology
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Generative Linguistics
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2022

The Social Condition of Deaf People

The Story of a Woman and a Hearing Society

Sara Trovato, Anna Folchi

Volume 16 in this series

More Cite

This book is about the social condition of Deaf people, told through a Deaf woman’s autobiography and a series of essays investigating how hearing societies relate to Deaf people.
Michel Foucault described the powerful one as the beholder who is not seen. This is why a Deaf woman’s perspective is important: Minorities that we don’t even suspect we have power over observe us in turn. Majorities exert power over minorities by influencing the environment and institutions that simplify or hinder lives: language, mindsets, representations, norms, the use of professional power.
Based on data collected by Eurostat, this volume provides the first discussion of statistics on the condition of Deaf people in a series of European countries, concerning education, labor, gender. This creates a new opportunity to discuss inequalities on the basis of data. The case studies in this volume reconstruct untold moments of great advancement in Deaf history, successful didactics supporting bilingualism, the reasons why Deaf empowerment for and by Deaf people does and does not succeed. A work of empowerment is effective if it acts on a double level: the community to be empowered and society at large, resulting in a transformation of society as a whole. This book provides instruments to work towards such a transformation.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110763140
ISBN:: 9783110763140
ISBN:: 9783110763201
ISBN:: 9783110762839
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Applied Linguistics
Subject:: Language Teaching and Learning
Subject:: Applied Linguistics, other
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Subject:: Sociolinguistics
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2021

Iconicity and Verb Agreement

A Corpus-Based Syntactic Analysis of German Sign Language

Marloes Oomen

Volume 15 in this series

More Cite

In many sign languages around the world, some verbs express grammatical agreement, while many others do not. Curiously, there is a remarkable degree of semantic overlap across sign languages between verbs that do and do not possess agreement properties.
This book scrutinizes the interaction between semantic and morphosyntactic structure in verb constructions in German Sign Language (DGS). Naturalistic dialogues from the DGS Corpus form the primary data source. It is shown that certain semantic properties, also known to govern transitivity marking in spoken languages, are predictive of verb type in DGS, where systematic iconic mappings play a mediating role. The results enable the formulation of cross-linguistic predictions about the interplay between verb semantics and verb type in sign languages. An analysis of the morphosyntactic properties of different verb types leads up to the conclusion that even ‘plain’ verbs agree with their arguments, where iconicity again plays a crucial role.
The findings motivate a unified syntactic analysis in terms of agreement of constructions with verbs of all types, thus offering a novel solution to the typological puzzle that supposedly only a subset of verbs agree in DGS and other sign languages.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110742787
ISBN:: 9783110742787
ISBN:: 9783110742848
ISBN:: 9783110742749
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
Subject:: Syntax
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: General Linguistics
Subject:: Generative Linguistics
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2021

Our Lives – Our Stories

Life Experiences of Elderly Deaf People

Roland Pfau, Asli Göksel, Jana Hosemann

Volume 14 in this series

More Cite

Sign languages are non-written languages. Given that the use of digital media and video recordings in documenting sign languages started only some 30 years ago, the life stories of Deaf elderly signers born in the 1930s-1940s have – except for a few scattered fragments in film – not been documented and are therefore under serious threat of being lost.
The chapters compiled in this volume document important aspects of past and present experiences of elderly Deaf signers across Europe, as well as in Israel and the United States. Issues addressed include (i) historical events and how they were experienced by Deaf people, (ii) issues of identity and independence, (iii) aspects of language change, (iv) experiences of suppression and discrimination. The stories shared by elderly signers reveal intriguing, yet hidden, aspects of Deaf life. On the negative side, these include experiences of the Deaf in Nazi Germany and occupied countries and harsh practices in educational settings, to name a few. On the positive side, there are stories of resilience and vivid memories of school years and social and professional life.
In this way, the volume contributes in a significant way to the preservation of the cultural and linguistic heritage of Deaf communities and sheds light on lesser known aspects against an otherwise familiar background.

This publication has been made possible within the SIGN-HUB project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110701906
ISBN:: 9783110701906
ISBN:: 9783110702019
ISBN:: 9783110701807
ISBN:: 9783111104621
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Applied Linguistics
Subject:: Applied Linguistics, other
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Subject:: Sociolinguistics
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2020

Lexical Nonmanuals in German Sign Language

Empirical Studies and Theoretical Implications

Nina-Kristin Pendzich

Volume 13 in this series

More Cite

The book presents an empirical and theoretical investigation of lexical nonmanuals in German Sign Language including torso, head, and facial expressions. Three empirical studies demonstrate the relevance of nonmanuals for the wellformedness of signs, their meaning, and lexical processing. Moreover, implications for the theoretical implementation of lexical nonmanuals concerning, e.g., articulation patterns and phonological status are discussed.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110671667
ISBN:: 9783110671667
ISBN:: 9783110668001
ISBN:: 9783110668193
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Applied Linguistics
Subject:: Applied Linguistics, other
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2020

Sign Language Ideologies in Practice

Annelies Kusters, Mara Green, Erin Moriarty, Kristin Snoddon

Volume 12 in this series

More Cite

This book focuses on how sign language ideologies influence, manifest in, and are challenged by communicative practices. Sign languages are minority languages using the visual-gestural and tactile modalities, whose affordances are very different from those of spoken languages using the auditory-oral modality.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501510090
ISBN:: 9781501510090
ISBN:: 9781501516856
ISBN:: 9781501510021
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Subject:: Sociolinguistics
Subject:: Multimodality
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book 2020

Brazilian Sign Language Studies

Ronice Müller de Quadros

Volume 11 in this series

More Cite

This book brings together a collection of studies on Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). Research on Libras began in earnest 20 years ago, around the time that Libras was recognised as a national language of Brazil in 2002. Over the years, more and more deaf researchers have become sign language linguists, and the community of Libras scholars have documented this language and built robust resources for linguistic research. This book provides a selection of studies by these scholars, representing work in a variety of areas from phonology to creative literature.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501507878
ISBN:: 9781501507878
ISBN:: 9781501516405
ISBN:: 9781501507816
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Languages of the Americas
Subject:: Languages of the Americas, other
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2019

Information Structure in Sign Languages

Evidence from Russian Sign Language and Sign Language of the Netherlands

Vadim Kimmelman

Volume 10 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

This book presents a first comprehensive overview of existing research on information structure in sign languages. Furthermore, it is combined with novel in-depth studies of Russian Sign Language and Sign Language of the Netherlands. The book discusses how topic, focus, and contrast are marked in the visual modality and what implications this has for theoretical and typological study of information structure. Such issues as syntactic and prosodic markers of information structure and their interactions, relations between different notions of information structure, and grammaticalization of markers of information structure are highlighted. Empirical studies of the two sign languages also showcase different methodologies that are used in such research and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. The book contains a general introduction to the field of information structure and thus can be used by linguists new to the field.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501510045
ISBN:: 9781501510045
ISBN:: 9781501516863
ISBN:: 9781501509933
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Linguistic Typology
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2017

Functions of Head and Body Movements in Austrian Sign Language

Andrea Lackner

Volume 9 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

Research on nonmanual elements – or ‘nonmanuals’ – in sign languages has focused on both the possible functions and the occurrence (frequency and form) of these elements in recent years. As a matter of fact, research on nonmanuals is still a quite uncharted territory in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) today, which has also initiated the study given.

In order to identify head and body movements in ÖGS, these nonmanuals were determined and analyzed functionally via a new user-oriented methodology. Getting feedback of multiple native signers was a main part of this method. Accordingly, you will find the findings of this study in this volume: various functions such as negation, assertion, interrogativity, conditionality, and many more can be expressed nonmanually. Brand new insights into sign language research are given, as well as astonishing results: even (epistemic) modality can be expressed by particular head and body movements.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501507779
ISBN:: 9781501507779
ISBN:: 9781501516337
ISBN:: 9781501507755
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
Subject:: Semantics
Subject:: Syntax
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2017

Nominal Modification in Italian Sign Language

Lara Mantovan

Volume 8 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

Since the recent creation of a large-scale corpus of Italian Sign Language (LIS), a new research branch has been established to study the sociolinguistic variation characterizing this language in various linguistic domains. However, for nominal modification, the role of language-internal variation remains uncertain. This volume represents the first attempt to investigate sign order variability in this domain, examining what shapes the syntactic structure of LIS nominal expressions. In particular, three empirical studies are presented and discussed: the first two are corpus studies investigating the distribution and duration of nominal modifiers, while the third deals with the syntactic behavior of cardinal numerals, an unexplored area.

In this enterprise, three different theoretical dimensions of inquiry are innovatively combined: linguistic typology, generative linguistics, and sociolinguistics. The research setup involves both quantitative and qualitative data. This mixed approach starts from corpus data to present the phenomenon, examine linguistic facts on a large scale, and draw questions from these, and then looks at elicited and judgment-based data to provide valid insights and refine the analysis. Crucially, the combination of different methods contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms driving nominal modification in LIS and its internal variation.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504853
ISBN:: 9781501504853
ISBN:: 9781501513435
ISBN:: 9781501504815
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Linguistic Typology
Subject:: Sign Languages
Subject:: Romance Languages
Subject:: Italian
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2016

Bilingualism and Deafness

On Language Contact in the Bilingual Acquisition of Sign Language and Written Language

Carolina Plaza-Pust

Volume 7 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

This book examines sociolinguistic, educational and psycholinguistic factors that shape the path to sign bilingualism in deaf individuals and contributes to a better understanding of the specific characteristics of a type of bilingualism that is neither territorial nor commonly the result of parent-to-child transmission. The evolution of sign bilingualism at the individual level is discussed from a developmental linguistics perspective on the basis of a longitudinal investigation of deaf learners' bilingual acquisition of German sign language (DGS) and German.　

The case studies included in this volume offer unique insights into bilingual deaf learners’ sign language and written language productions, and the sophisticated nature of the bilingual competence they attain. Commonalities and differences between sign bilingual language development in deaf learners and language development in other language acquisition scenarios are identified on the basis of a dynamic model of change in the evolution of (learner) language, with a focus on the role of language contact in the organisation of multilingual knowledge and the scope of inter- and intra-individual variation in learner grammars. In many respects, as becomes apparent throughout the chapters of this work, sign bilingualism represents not only a challenge but also a resource. Given this cross-disciplinary perspective, the insights on bilingualism and deafness in this volume will be of interest to a wide range of researchers and professionals.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504990
ISBN:: 9781501504990
ISBN:: 9781501513961
ISBN:: 9781501504938
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Bilingualism and Multilingualism
Subject:: Linguistic Typology
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2016

A Matter of Complexity

Subordination in Sign Languages

Roland Pfau, Markus Steinbach, Annika Herrmann

Volume 6 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

Since natural languages exist in two different modalities – the visual-gestural modality of sign languages and the auditory-oral modality of spoken languages – it is obvious that all fields of research in modern linguistics will benefit from research on sign languages. Although previous studies have provided important insights into a wide range of phenomena of sign languages, there are still many aspects of sign languages that have not yet been investigated thoroughly. The structure of subordinated clauses is a case in point. The study of these complex syntactic structures in the visual-gestural modality adds to our understanding of linguistic variation in the domain of subordination. Moreover, it offers new empirical and theoretical evidence concerning possible structures and functions of subordination in natural languages. And last but not least, it answers the question to what extent the corresponding morphosyntactic and prosodic strategies depend on the modality of articulation and perception. This volume represents the first collection of papers by leading experts in the field investigating topics that go beyond the analysis of simple clauses. It thus contributes in innovative ways to recent debates about syntax, prosody, semantics, discourse structure, and information structure and their complex interrelation.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501503238
ISBN:: 9781501503238
ISBN:: 9781501503016
ISBN:: 9781501511332
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2014

On Relativization and Clefting

An Analysis of Italian Sign Language

Chiara Branchini

Volume 5 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

This work is a contribution to our understanding of relativization strategies and clefting in Italian Sign Language, and more broadly, to our understanding of these constructions in world languages by setting the discussion on the theories that have been proposed in the literature of spoken languages to derive the syntactic phenomena object of investigation.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501500008
ISBN:: 978-1-5015-1037-3
ISBN:: 978-1-5015-0000-8
ISBN:: 9781501500046
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Subject:: Linguistics, other
Subject:: Romance Languages
Subject:: Italian
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2015

The Meaning of Space in Sign Language

Reference, Specificity and Structure in Catalan Sign Language Discourse

Gemma Barberà Altimira

Volume 4 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

Bringing together sign language linguistics and the semantics-pragmatics interface, this book focuses on the use of signing space in Catalan Sign Language (LSC). On the basis of small-scale corpus data, it provides an exhaustive description of referential devices dependent on space. The book provides insight into the study of meaning in the visual-spatial modality and into our understanding of the discourse behavior of spatial locations.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614518815
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-866-2
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-881-5
ISBN:: 9781501500558
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Other Languages of Europe
Subject:: European Languages, other
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2014

Mouth Actions in Sign Languages

An Empirical Study of Irish Sign Language

Susanne Mohr

Volume 3 in this series

More Cite Download EPUB Download PDF

Mouth actions in sign languages have been controversially discussed but the sociolinguistic factors determining their form and functions remain uncertain. This first empirical analysis of mouth actions in Irish Sign Language focuses on correlations with gender, age, and word class. It contributes to the linguistic description of ISL, research into non-manuals in sign languages, and is relevant for the cross-modal study of word classes.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614514978
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-705-4
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-497-8
ISBN:: 9781614519041
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sociolinguistics
Subject:: Linguistics, other
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2013

Modal and Focus Particles in Sign Languages

A Cross-Linguistic Study

Annika Herrmann

Volume 2 in this series

More Cite Download PDF

Bringing together the research fields of sign language linguistics and information structure, this book focuses on the realization of modal particles and focus particles in three European sign languages: German Sign Language, Sign Language of the Netherlands, and Irish Sign Language. As a cross-linguistic investigation based on a systematic methodological approach, the study analyzes the results particularly with regard to nonmanual features expressed by articulators such as the body, head, and face. The analyses of the data provide interesting insights into the syntax-prosody interface in sign languages and the interaction of syntax and prosody in general.

Modal and focus particles have not been thoroughly investigated in sign languages. This volume presents the first study on this phenomenon and is thus an innovative contribution to the field. From a methodological and theoretical perspective, it draws on up-to-date linguistic tools and provides professionally elicited and annotated data. The book accounts for the results within existing theoretical models. Given its specific focus on nonmanuals, the book contributes to recent debates on information structure and the syntax-prosody interface and will be of special interest to both sign and spoken language linguists.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614511816
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-237-0
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-181-6
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
Subject:: Syntax
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Linguistic Typology
Subject:: Sign Languages
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton

Book Open Access 2013

Sign Language Research, Uses and Practices

Crossing Views on Theoretical and Applied Sign Language Linguistics

Laurence Meurant, Aurélie Sinte, Mieke Van Herreweghe, Myriam Vermeerbergen

Volume 1 in this series

More Cite Download PDF

The uses and practices of sign languages are strongly related to scientific research on sign languages and vice versa. Conversely, sign linguistics cannot be separated from Deaf community practices, including practices in education and interpretation. Therefore, the current volume brings together work on sign language interpreting, the use of spoken and sign language with deaf children with cochlear implants and early language development in children exposed to both a spoken and sign language, and reports on recent research on aspects of sign language structure. It also includes papers addressing methodological issues in sign language research.

The book presents papers by "more seasoned" researchers and "new kids on the block", as well as papers in which the two collaborate. The contributions will be of interest to all those interested in linguistics, sociolinguistics, cultural studies, interpreting and education. It will have particular relevance to those interested in sign linguistics, sociolinguistics of deaf communities, Deaf studies, Deaf culture, sign language interpretation, sign language teaching, and (spoken/signed) bilingualism. Given the scarcity of literature on "Deaf studies", the book will also appeal widely beyond the traditional academic milieu. As a result, it has relevance for those teaching and learning sign languages, for professional and student interpreters and for teachers of the deaf.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614511472
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-199-1
ISBN:: 978-1-61451-147-2
Subject:: Linguistics and Semiotics
Subject:: Theoretical Frameworks and Disciplines
Subject:: Sign Languages
Subject:: Sociolinguistics
Subject:: Social Sciences
Subject:: Communication Science
Subject:: Intercultural Communication
Publisher:: De Gruyter Mouton