On the global politics of sign language plurilingualism and Deaf identities: Reflection and analysis at an atypical intersection in social theory
Abstract:
The twenty-first century has already seen much debate on issues of language politics and identity relating to communities of Deaf people. Deaf communities’ claims to recognition follow empirical research, particularly within linguistics and social science, and Deaf communities have developed discourses of citizenship and empowerment. Liberal citizenship assumes that Deaf people need ‘curing’ but Deaf communities, backed by a World Federation of the Deaf with UN status, insist upon the recognition and promotion of sign languages. The techno-political medicalisation of Deaf people threatens sign languages with linguistic genocide largely hidden from the public domain. Yet Deaf communities can be construed as a truly global ‘nation’, united by the use of highly visual sign languages that can easily be understood across national boundaries.
This paper seeks to describe and analyse social and cultural forms of plurilingualism and transnational linguistic identity with reference to Deaf people who use sign languages. In order to do this, we will draw upon an atypical intersection of disciplinary channels including sociolinguistics; human geography; educational mainstreaming and the rhetoric of inclusion; disability studies and the sociology of medicine, technology and the body; and the politics of language, nationalism, rights and citizenship.
Keywords:
language politics
Deaf people
discourses of citizenship
sign languages
linguistic genocide
transnational linguistic identity
