Signs of development
Sociolinguistic variation and change in New Zealand Sign Language in times of status change and globalisation.
This 3-year project commenced in May 2021.
Led by Associate Professor Rachel McKee, the project investigates evidence of linguistic change in NZSL lexicon and genres, and examines how innovative features correlate with the social characteristics of users (such as age, ethnicity) and particular usage contexts.
Previous research has shown that NZSL is a young language that exhibits rapid sociolinguistic variation and change. Official recognition has brought NZSL use into new public and cultural domains to address wider purposes than in previous eras. New usage demands, and increasing global contact among different signed languages, motivate linguistic change such as expansion of vocabulary and innovation of genres/styles to meet non-traditional purposes.
The project includes two studies:
- Lexical growth and change (2021 -2022)
- Genre variation (2022 - current)
Funding
This project is funded by the Marsden Fund.
Reports, presentations and publications
How does NZSL grow? Investigating new signs. NZSLTA Conference presentation video (2023)
Recent lexical expansion in New Zealand Sign Language - context, scope and mechanisms Current Issues in Language Planning (forthcoming).
Neologisms in NZSL - a case study of COVID-19 pandemic-related signs Conference paper presented online at the 3rd Globalex Workshop on Lexicography and Neology, August 2021.
Researchers
Associate Professor · Programme Director, NZSL Studies
School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies · Deaf Studies Research Unit
Senior Lecturer (Teaching)
School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Sign Language Interpreter
School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Interested Party
NZSL Tutor
Senior Research Fellow
School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies|School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies|School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies