death of sign language

[Barbara Gerner De Garcia]

 It is a serious concern that sign languages such as AUSLAN are endangered
as the number of children using them diminishes. But the unique thing about
sign languages, is that new sign languages emerge adding to the linguistic
diversity of the world. In the case of spoken languages, they only die and
disappear. From a linguistic ecology point of view (Skutnabb-Kangas and
others), this is good news.  But I don't want to in any way dismiss the
tragedy of endangered sign languages.

Barbara Gerner de Garcia

On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 3:48 AM, Ulrike Zeshan <UZeshan at uclan.ac.uk> wrote:

>  Hi all,****
>
> ** **
>
> this is some work following the latest expert meeting at UNESCO in Paris
> and the WFD-EUD conference on sign languages as endangered languages. It is
> not connected with CEFR. The current version of the questionnaire, produced
> with input from researchers on endangered village sign languages and from
> the WFD  expert committee on sign languages, will shortly be made available
> for everyone to comment on further – and to use for collecting data if you
> wish. I will inform everyone through the list. I would also be happy to
> post this on the SLLS website if there is interest in having it accessible
> through there.****
>
> ** **
>
> Ulrike****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* linguists interested in signed languages [mailto:
> SLLING-L at LISTSERV.VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU] *On Behalf Of *Mark A. Mandel
> *Sent:* 27 March 2012 19:21
>
> *To:* SLLING-L at LISTSERV.VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU
> *Subject:* Re: death of sign language****
>
>  ** **
>
> Ulrike, is this connected with the CEFR<http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Cadre1_en.asp> (Common
> European Framework of Reference for Languages) and the efforts to adapt it
> for SLs?****
>
> * CEFR for Signed Languages European Program<http://www.cefr-signlang.eu/index.html>:
> Website under construction; page last modified 21 March 2012. “More
> information shortly. For further questions please contact us at
> mail at cefr-signlang.eu****
>
> *CEFR Sign language – preliminary design study (2011-2012)<http://www.hfh.ch/projekte_detail-n70-r79-i1825-sE.html> for
> the Swiss SLs****
>
> ** **
>
> -- Mark ****
>
> ** **
>
> On 12.03.27, at 5:50 AM, Ulrike Zeshan wrote:****
>
>
>
> ****
>
> HI, UNESCO has had a project on language endangerment, and a methodology
> for assessing language vitality was developed by the UNESCO expert group in
> 2003.****
>
>  ****
>
> Web link:****
>
>  ****
>
>
> http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/endangered-languages/language-vitality/
> ****
>
>  ****
>
> This can apply to sign languages in principle, but a number of questions
> for assessment of the language situation need to be adapted for sign
> languages. We have started doing some work on this with UNESCO and WFD.***
> *
>
>  ****
>
> Ulrike****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>



-- 
Dr. Barbara Gerner de Garcia, Professor and Chair
Department of Educational Foundations and Research
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695

Phone: 202-651-5207
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