NEW Journal Article on SignWriting: Language & Communication Journal

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
October 11, 2011

Here is the abstract, which I just copied from the web site. This article is about the SignWriting List...so you all have contributed in a wonderful way to the development of SignWriting, and to research that is ongoing...

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Writing the smile: Language ideologies in, and through, sign language scripts
Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway 

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between language ideology and script by detailing an emerging set of practices for writing sign languages. Though sign languages have often been considered un-writable, signers worldwide are increasingly producing written sign language texts using Sutton SignWriting (SW), a writing system originally developed for dance notation. After comparing SW to Stokoe Notation, a sign language script developed by a prominent sign language linguist, this article draws on texts produced by SW users, and the metalinguistic discussion of these texts on an email listserve, to demonstrate that use of SW allows its users to articulate and challenge dominant, and often tacit, ideologies about the nature of language and writing.

Highlights

► Small groups of signers worldwide produce written sign language texts using Sutton SignWriting. ► This article analyses texts produced by SW users and the metalinguistic discussion of these texts on an email listserve. ► Creating and discussing such texts helps users challenge dominant ideologies about the nature of language and writing.

Article Outline

1. Introduction
2. Mutually reinforcing ideologies of language and writing
3. Writing sign languages: a comparison between writing systems
3.1. Stokoe Notation
3.2. Sutton SignWriting
4. The circulation and discussion of Sutton SignWriting texts
4.1. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
4.2. The Cat in the Hat
4.3. Listserve discussions
5. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Appendix A. Supplementary data
References



Vitae

Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway, a linguistic anthropologist, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2008. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Oberlin College and Book Review Editor for the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology. Her research focuses on semiotics, language ideologies, and language socialization. The two primary ethnographic sites in which she locates her research include d/Deaf social networks in Nepal and online social networks that anchor emerging transnational sign language literacy practices.



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On Oct 11, 2011, at 8:56 AM, Valerie Sutton wrote:

> SignWriting List
> October 11, 2011
> 
> Hello SignWriting List!
> 
> I am happy to announce that Erika's article on SignWriting is now published in the "Language and Communications Journal".
> 
> It is:
> "Writing the smile: Language ideologies in, and through, sign language scripts"
> by Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway
> 
> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271530911000474
> 
> 
> There is also a link to the article on our SignWriting web site:
> 
> SignWriting Linguistics Forum
> http://www.signwriting.org/forums/linguistics/
> 
> Scroll down and click on number 1:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Congratulations, Erika, and thank you for writing this article - it is a really interesting article about writing smiles and when to write them...
> 
> Val ;-)
> 
> ----------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Oct 10, 2011, at 8:14 AM, Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway wrote:
> 
>> Hi Val!
>> ............   I've been getting a lot of good feedback about this article, so I hope it will bring more attention to SSW! .......
> 
>> Best,
>> Erika
>> 
>> -- 
>> Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway
>> Assistant Professor of Anthropology
>> Oberlin College

> 
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