| CODE | LLT2360 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Language and Culture of Deaf People | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides an introduction to the language and culture of the Sign Language Community. It will examine the language of Deaf people, together with educational, social, political and artistic aspects of the Deaf world, recognising the diversity and complexity of Deaf experiences. Discussion will focus on different constructions of Deafness, including the linguistic aspect, as well as social and cultural models and changing societal responses to Deafness over time and in different regions of the world. Discussion of special considerations involved in working with interpreters will also take place. Communication and language are perhaps the most basic aspects of community and culture, particularly when audiological deafness is rarely passed down through families. As access to language, culture and citizenship are core parts of the experience of Deafness, this makes a revealing case study for theoretical comparison with other minority communities. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to: - encourage personal reflective practices in students in their understanding of minority communities; - enable students to understand various perspectives and constructions of Deafness; - contextualise Deaf community values and goals socially, historically, and politically; - To critically evaluate the range of challenges posed by audiological deafness, particularly with regard to the complex process of first language acquisition, and the potential roles of both Sign Language and Deaf culture in addressing these challenges; - assist with understanding the importance of the recognition of sign languages as languages, and the ramifications of this for Deaf culture. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - describe what it means to be a member of the Sign Language community; - discuss diverse constructions of Deafness, most notably the difference between medical models of Deafness and those which highlight the social and linguistic aspects of the Deaf experience; - recognise particular socio-cultural challenges faced by members of the Sign Language community with regard to education, employment, family life, and citizenship; - appreciate Deaf contributions to art and culture. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - apply concepts from theoretical models of Deafness to other groups; - recognise common experiences with other linguistic and cultural minorities, particularly where a minority identity is not passed on through families; - demonstrate understanding of the special role played by Maltese Sign Language and other Sign Languages in the Deaf World; - identify the basic linguistic features of sign languages, and evaluate the importance of their status as languages rather than mere communication systems. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Bauman, H. D. L., & Murray, J. J. (Eds.). (2014). Deaf gain: Raising the stakes for human diversity. - Ladd, P. (2003). Understanding deaf culture: In search of deafhood. Multilingual Matters. - Monaghan, L., Schmaling, C., Nakamura, K., & Turner, G. H. (2003). Many ways to be deaf. - Padden, C., Humphries, T., & Padden, C. (2009). Inside deaf culture. Harvard University Press. - Miles, D. (1988) British Sign Language: A Beginner’s Guide. BBC Books. Supplementary Readings: - Bragg, L. (2001). Deaf world: A historical reader and primary sourcebook. NYU Press.* - Groce, N. (1985) Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. - Lane, H. L., Hoffmeister, R., & Bahan, B. J. (1996). A journey into the deaf-world (p. 560). San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress. * - Sacks, O. (2009). Seeing voices: A journey into the world of the deaf. Pan Macmillan. * * Books not currently in library. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Benjamin Matthews |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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