American Indian nations of the Great Plains and cultural groups bordering this geographic area spoke so many different languages that verbal communication between them was difficult. As extensive trade networks developed and political alliances became necessary, an elegant language of the hands developed that cut across spoken language barriers. Though now endangered, this sign language continues to serve a vital role in traditional storytelling, rituals, legends, prayers, conversational narratives, and as a primary language of American Indians who are deaf. This volume contains the most current descriptions of all levels of the language from phonology to discourse, as well as comparisons with other sign languages. This is the first work of its kind to be produced in more than a century, and is intended for students of sign language as well as those wishing to learn more about American Indian languages and cultures.

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.

This book examines conference-level simultaneous interpreting from a signed language into a spoken language, drawing on Auslan (Australian Sign Language)-to-English simultaneous interpretation data to explore the skills, knowledge, strategies, and cognitive abilities needed for effective interpretations in this language direction. As simultaneous interpreting from a spoken language into a signed language is the widely accepted norm within the field of signed language interpreting, to date little has been written on simultaneous interpreting in the other language direction. In an attempt to bridge this gap, Wang conducts microanalysis of an experimental corpus of Auslan-to-English simultaneous interpretations in a mock conference setting to investigate different dimensions of quality assessment, interpreting strategies, cognitive load, and the interpreting process itself. The focus on conference-level simultaneous interpreting not only allows for insights into the impact of signed language variation on the signed-to-spoken language simultaneous interpreting process but also sheds light on the unique demands of conference settings such as the requirement of using a formal register. Acting as a bridge between spoken language interpreting studies and signed language interpreting studies and highlighting implications for future research on simultaneous interpreting of other language combinations (spoken and signed), this book will be of interest to scholars in translation and interpreting studies as well as active practitioners in these fields.

This volume is the first to bring together researchers studying a range of different types of emerging sign languages in the Americas, and their relationship to the gestures produced in the surrounding communities of hearing individuals. Contents Acknowledgements Olivier Le Guen, Marie Coppola and Josefina Safar Introduction: How Emerging Sign Languages in the Americas contributes to the study of linguistics and (emerging) sign languages Part I: Emerging sign languages of the Americas. Descriptions and analysis John Haviland Signs, interaction, coordination, and gaze: interactive foundations of "Z"-an emerging (sign) language from Chiapas, Mexico Laura Horton Representational strategies in shared homesign systems from Nebaj, Guatemala Josefina Safar and Rodrigo Petatillo Chan Strategies of noun-verb distinction in Yucatec Maya Sign Languages Emmanuella Martinod, Brigitte Garcia and Ivani Fusellier A typological perspective on the meaningful handshapes in the emerging sign languages on Marajo Island (Brazil) Ben Braithwaite Emerging sign languages in the Caribbean Olivier Le Guen, Rebeca Petatillo and Rita (Rossy) Kinil Canche Yucatec Maya multimodal interaction as the basis for Yucatec Maya Sign Language Marie Coppola Gestures, homesign, sign language: Cultural and social factors driving lexical conventionalization Part II: Sociolinguistic sketches John B. Haviland Zinacantec family homesign (or "Z") Laura Horton A sociolinguistic sketch of deaf individuals and families from Nebaj, Guatemala Josefina Safar and Olivier Le Guen Yucatec Maya Sign Language(s): A sociolinguistic overview Emmanuella Martinod, Brigitte Garcia and Ivani Fusellier Sign Languages on Marajo Island (Brazil) Ben Braithwaite Sociolinguistic sketch of Providence Island Sign Language Kristian Ali and Ben Braithwaite Bay Islands Sign Language: A Sociolinguistic Sketch Marie Coppola Sociolinguistic sketch: Nicaraguan Sign Language and Homesign Systems in Nicaragua

This book is the first edited international volume focused on critical perspectives on plurilingualism in deaf education, which encompasses education in and out of schools and across the lifespan. The book provides a critical overview and snapshot of the use of sign languages in education for deaf children today and explores contemporary issues in education for deaf children such as bimodal bilingualism, translanguaging, teacher education, sign language interpreting and parent sign language learning. The research presented in this book marks a significant development in understanding deaf children's language use and provides insights into the flexibility and pragmatism of young deaf people and their families' communicative practices. It incorporates the views of young deaf people and their parents regarding their language use that are rarely visible in the research to date.

This book is the first edited international volume focused on critical perspectives on plurilingualism in deaf education, which encompasses education in and out of schools and across the lifespan. The book provides a critical overview and snapshot of the use of sign languages in education for deaf children today and explores contemporary issues in education for deaf children such as bimodal bilingualism, translanguaging, teacher education, sign language interpreting and parent sign language learning. The research presented in this book marks a significant development in understanding deaf children's language use and provides insights into the flexibility and pragmatism of young deaf people and their families' communicative practices. It incorporates the views of young deaf people and their parents regarding their language use that are rarely visible in the research to date.

This new study is a major contribution to sign language study and to literature generally, looking at the complex grammatical, phonological and morphological systems of sign language linguistic structure and their role in sign language poetry and performance. Chapters deal with repetition and rhyme, symmetry and balance, neologisms, ambiguity, themes, metaphor and allusion, poem and performance, and blending English and sign language poetry. Major poetic performances in both BSL and ASL--with emphasis on the work of the deaf poet Dorothy Miles--are analyzed using the tools provided in the book.

This timely text offers a how-to guide for analyzing gesture and multimodality in second language learning and teaching. Expert contributors from around the world outline the theoretical basis for each topic and offer clear descriptions of data collection and analysis methods for classroom, naturalistic, quasi-experimental, and experimental settings. The book further offers a rich array of ancillary pedagogical material and points out areas ripe for future study. This will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and researchers of applied linguistics, communications, education, and psychology interested in gesture studies and multimodality in L2 learning and teaching.

This timely text offers a how-to guide for analyzing gesture and multimodality in second language learning and teaching. Expert contributors from around the world outline the theoretical basis for each topic and offer clear descriptions of data collection and analysis methods for classroom, naturalistic, quasi-experimental, and experimental settings. The book further offers a rich array of ancillary pedagogical material and points out areas ripe for future study. This will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and researchers of applied linguistics, communications, education, and psychology interested in gesture studies and multimodality in L2 learning and teaching.

Start signing with your baby today! This comprehensive book makes signing easy with photos of real kids using 100+ signs, plus expert advice on teaching your baby to communicate early. In Baby Sign Language, Mary Smith-ASL interpreter and founder of popular sign language education business Sign 'n Grow-shares everything you need for learning how to sign with your 0-3-year-old. Maybe you've seen it online or remember a friend and their baby signing MILK or MORE. No matter why you're interested, what you've heard is true: signing is one of the best ways to kickstart communication. When your baby can sign, they'll get frustrated less-and you will be able to bond more closely. At the heart of the book are a broad array of photographed signs that are easy to understand thanks to the real kids signing them. You'll find everything your baby wants to tell you, including: Mealtime Signs: Milk, Food, More, All Done, Drink, Water, Please, Thank You, Yes, No, Hungry, Thirsty Daytime Signs: Help, Open, Up, Pacifier, Light, Bath, Diaper, Blanket, Bed, Sleep, Morning, Night, Potty, Poop, and A Variety of Clothing Signs Playtime Signs: Again, Read, Book, Play, Toy, Dance, Music, Ball, Try, Friend, Take Turns, Gentle, Dog, Cat Family Signs: Love, Mommy, Daddy, Baby, Sister, Brother, Grandma, Grandpa, How Baby Feels Signs: Feel, Happy, Silly, Sad, Angry, Scared, Frustrated, Sleepy, Hurt Outdoors Signs: House, Walk, Outside, Playground, Grass, Tree, Car, Airplane, Sun, Moon, Stars, Rain, Snow ...And many more! With songs, stories, and games to encourage learning, and insider tips to boost your baby's language development, this is truly an all-in-one guide for helping your baby tell you their wants and needs before they start to talk.

This Handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of sign language translation and interpretation from around the globe and looks ahead to future directions of research. Divided into eight parts, the book covers foundational skills, the working context of both the sign language translator and interpreter, their education, the sociological context, work settings, diverse service users, and a regional review of developments. The chapters are authored by a range of contributors, both deaf and hearing, from the Global North and South, diverse in ethnicity, language background, and academic discipline. Topics include the history of the profession, the provision of translation and interpreting in different domains and to different populations, the politics of provision, and the state of play of sign language translation and interpreting professions across the globe. Edited and authored by established and new voices in the field, this is the essential guide for advanced students and researchers of translation and interpretation studies and sign language.

This book about the clash between old and new approaches to translation and interpreting focuses on the theoretical, methodological, empirical as well as paradigmatic tensions and intersections between various traditions in translation and interpreting studies. It does so not only from a generational perspective but also from geographical, sociocultural and political points of view, aiming to foster communication among them and reveal synergies between the latest research trends and pre-existing methodologies and approaches. It includes chapters on translation theory, history and criticism, interpreting in changing contexts, translation of texts that transcend genre, text type and media borders, and changes and challenges in translator and interpreter training. The book provides a platform to new voices in translation and interpreting studies and presents the ideas of traditionally less represented geographical areas in the mainstream of our discipline.

Research Methods in Sign Language Studies is a landmark work on sign language research, which spans the fields of linguistics, experimental and developmental psychology, brain research, and language assessment. * Examines a broad range of topics, including ethical and political issues, key methodologies, and the collection of linguistic, cognitive, neuroscientific, and neuropsychological data * Provides tips and recommendations to improve research quality at all levels and encourages readers to approach the field from the perspective of diversity rather than disability * Incorporates research on sign languages from Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Africa * Brings together top researchers on the subject from around the world, including many who are themselves deaf