Documentation of Sign Languages
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5007/1984-8412.2020.e77336Abstract
This article presents a discussion about documentation of sign language, with special attention to the academic and social aspects, and a few recommendations as to what kinds of materials are considered relevant by Deaf communities in sign language documentation. First, we take a more philosophical approach in discussing the linguistic documentation of sign languages, after which we address technical and ethical aspects of compiling linguistic corpora of signed languages. As such, the first part of this article focuses on three basic questions: (1) what exactly constitutes documentation of sign languages; (2) why document sign languages at all; and (3) on whose behalf is it necessary to document sign languages. The second part of this article explores a number of exemplary practices in sign language documentation as executed in various countries that are highly valued and may serve as points of reference for diverse Deaf communities. Documentation practices will be presented, in particular, the creation of corpora to represent sign languages as they are used by Deaf communities; historical records of sign languages; literary production in sign languages; reference materials for teaching sign languages; records of bilingual-unimodal Deaf signers; and records of bilingual-bimodal signers. These issues carry with them numerous ethical implications, as the documentation of sign languages inevitably involves the Deaf communities of each respective language. As such, we close the article with a reflection on how these documentation practices relate to the academic and social interests of Deaf communities involved in such research.
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