Signs of globalisation

Investigating ASL borrowing in NZSL, and Deaf community perceptions and attitudes in relation to ASL influence.

This project (2019-2021)  built on the DSRU's research into sociolinguistic variation and change in NZSL. External influences can be important triggers of language variation, change and shift.The NZSL community has a history of extensive lexical borrowing in response to international contact and new demands upon the language.  American Sign Language (ASL) is  the dominant language in an increasingly globalised Deaf cyberspace and ASL vocabulary is increasingly evident in NZSL.

The project analysed public online NZSL text and carried out an online survey to find out more about the form and extent of ASL borrowing in NZSL. Interviews with Deaf NZSL users were used to identify sources of foreign sign vocabulary borrowing into NZSL, and to analyse Deaf signers' beliefs regarding the influence of ASL (and other foreign) vocabulary.

Funding

This project was funded by the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fund.

Reports, presentations and publications

McKee, Rachel, and David McKee. 2020. "Globalisation, Hybridity and Vitality in the Linguistic Ideologies of New Zealand Sign Language Users". Language & Communication. Special Issue: Ideologies in Sign Language Vitality and Revitalisation 74:164-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2020.07.001

Signs of globalisation: What is ASL doing in NZSL? NZSLTA Conference presentation video (2020)

Signs of globalisation: What is ASL doing in NZSL? NZSLTA Conference presentation slides (2020)

Signs of globalisation: What is ASL doing in NZSL? Poster presentation at TISLR conference  (2019)