Building Partnerships
between Researchers and Stakeholders
in Language Communities
to Empower Collaboration
Ted Supalla, PhD
Georgetown University
Neurology Department
Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery
Sign Language Research Lab
American Sign Language Es$ma$on of ASL popula$on: 1 million •  500,000 Deaf & Hard of Hearing •  500,000 Offspring (Deaf & Hearing) •  Source: SIPP (2001), Gallaudet Research Ins$tute, CPS (2003), NCDP (1972) Personal Background
1993
W O R L D F E D E R AT I O N O F T H E D E A F
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by the WFD Scientific Commission on Sign Language
Ted Supalb; United States (President)
Ritva Bergmann, Denmark
Clark Denmark, United Kingdom
Markka Jokinen, Finland
Odd-Inge Schroeder, Norway
Manfa Suwanarat, Thailand
Challenge Common concern among Heritage SL stakeholders: How to ensure sustainability and quality assurance? Example: Interpreter Imposter at Nelson Mandela memorial Sign language heritage prone to fragmentation
•  Stakeholders versus language policy in society
•  Policy driven by “Restoring the Deaf to Society”
Research Background Neuroscience
Humanities
Techniques for Studying Sign Language Use
Neuroscience
Humanities
Also Using an Archaeological Approach!
LSF
1760
ASL
1817
De L Epee
Clerc
Challenge: To fill a large void
in our collective memory
Shedding Light on the Dark Period
LSF
1760
ASL
1817
De L Epee
Clerc
1910-1920
New Technology for Browsing Through Historical ASL Films and Books Rapid access to historical sign language tokens Early stewardship effort
George Veditz, 1913
Civic leader and educator
Going back 100 years...
Revealing
the NAD’s Language Plan
J. Schuyler Long History of sign language in Europe
Literary Society "
in America"
In early 20th Century"
Oratory traditions initiated in France"
during the 19th Century"
Sign Language Growth
Yet no plan for revitalizing our infrastructure
So we need to consider alternate models
for passing on the language to future generations
Empowering collabora$ons to support sign language stewardship •  Our community has commi[ed itself to measures that safeguard our sign language heritage. We nourish and steward its journey through cycles of neglect or oppression. •  At the same $me, we need to be[er understand our history of struggles and compe$ng ideas. Outreach to Stakeholders
in Sign Language Communities To empower collabora$on for introducing this unique heritage to children and parents, thus enlightening society. MOOC course offering in Fall 2016 “Sign Language Structure, Learning & Change” Fundamental message: The forma$on of sign language through $me is like the forma$on of other languages of the world. Acknowledgements •  NEH fellowships •  NIH and NSF Grants BCS0925073 and BCS-­‐1455756 •  Thanks to: –  My co-­‐author Pa[y Clark –  School and University Archivists –  Research team at Georgetown University