External phonological change

[Adam Schembri, Deaf Studies]

Pip,

Thanks for this message - very interesting stuff!

Let me clarify: I am interested in phonological change of the kind
I've seen in BSL where the Middle Finger handshape has been
systematically replaced in a small set of signs by the G handshape.
The examples you mention represent lexical change. The lexical variant
you mention for LAZY is not one I have seen widely used in the Sydney
deaf community, although the sign HOLIDAY with a 5 handshape does
co-exist in Sydney with the variant using a Middle Finger handshape.

Nevertheless, you're right to point out that I ought not create the
impression that Auslan is not influenced by similar social pressures.
I have research data collected from 8 deaf native signers from
Melbourne signing with a deaf native signer co-researcher, and the use
of the Middle Finger handshape in the sign for ROCKET occurs in this
context. I think, however, you've drawn my attention to something
I've not been really been aware of - the tendency to avoid the use of
signs using the Middle Finger handshape in public discourse. After I
read your email, I checked with my partner (who has far more
experience interpreting in the public domain in Sydney than I do),
and he confirmed that he had avoided or been requested to avoid the
use of Middle Finger handshape signs in certain contexts. So, you're
definitely on to something there. Perhaps we ought to co-operate on
some research when I'm back in Sydney in July!

The interesting difference, however, is that these social pressures
may be causing some degree of lexical change in Auslan, but appear to
have led to some phonological change in BSL.

Cheers,
Adam

----------------------
Adam Schembri
Centre for Deaf Studies
University of Bristol
8 Woodland Rd
Bristol BS8 1TN
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)117 954 6909
Textphone: +44 (0)117 954 6920
Fax: +44 (0)117 954 6921
Email: Adam.Schembri at bristol.ac.uk
Website: www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/DeafStudies

> I have done no formal research in this particular area, but have
> observed an
> increasing tendency over the last ten years for many Deaf people (at
> least
> in the Melbourne Deaf community) to avoid the use of those signs in
> Auslan
> .......  this process appears to be (as one would expect) at
> different stages
> with different signs, ranging from a complete shift to (as yet) no
> apparent
> shift.  HOLIDAY is usually signed with a 5 hs in all contexts, I have
> rarely
> seen it signed with middle finger hs . There are several signs with
> meanings
> closely related to SILLY, with the middle-finger extended sign having
> semantically deteriorated so that it is now the most pejorative of
> these and
> is quite marked, no longer considered appropriate for all contexts.
> STUBBORN
> is hanging in there and is still signed with middle finger hs.  LAZY
> has
> almost been replaced by another sign (B hs contacting hip twice)
> except when
> communicating with Deaf-blind people who use tactile signing or have a
> limited field of vision.  AVAILABLE seems to be gradually losing
> currency,
> and some interesting circumlocutions can be observed, particularly in
> discourse produced "in public".  Many Deaf people express a
> preference for
> interpreters also to avoid use of these signs in public.
>
> pip
>