Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LIN2071

 
TITLE An Introduction to Sign Linguistics

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Institute of Linguistics

 
DESCRIPTION Prerequisites:
LIN2070 or equivalent

An Introduction to Sign Linguistics : Principles

Objectives

The course will review the distinction between language and medium and extend it to a consideration of sign languages. The concepts introduced in general linguistics will be applied to the study of sign languages.

Content

The course starts with a general introduction to the sociolinguistics of deaf communities. The controversy between manualism and oralism in deaf education is reviewed. Basic insights from studies of ASL, BSL and LSM are examined.

Aspects of Maltese Sign Language

Students are given the opportunity to analyse samples of video-recorded Maltese Sign Language. Students may extend their assignment to involve fieldwork and work under supervision to enable them to carry out a mini investigation into the Maltese deaf community's language.

Reading List

- Brenman, M., M. D. Colville, and L. K. Lawson. 1980. Words in Hand. Edinburgh: BSL Research Project
- Crystal, D. 1987. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- Klima, E., and V. Bellugi. 1979. The Signs of Language. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
- Kyle, J., and B. Woll. 1985. Sign Language: the study of deaf people and their language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- Miles, D. 1988. British Sign Language: a beginner's guide. London: BBC Books
- Prillwirz, S., and T. Vollhaber. (eds.) 1990. Sign Language Research and Application: proceedings of the 1st congress, Hamburg March 1990. Hamburg: Signum Press
- Sutton-Spence, R. & Woll, B. 1999. The Linguistics of British Sign Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- Volterra, V., and C. J. Erting. (eds.) 1994. From Gesture to Language in Hearing and Deaf Children. Washington D.C.: Gallaudet University Press

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Standard Study-Unit

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Module Result Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit