Academic Language:
Please join us for a discussion and Q&A with Dr. Erin Moriarty from the University of Virginia. She will explore the historical trajectory of Cambodian Sign Language, examining its ongoing development and the unique metalinguistic engagement of signing communities with sign languages in general. From the calibration involved in the use of International Sign (IS) to the intentional modifications of American Sign Language (ASL) to remove English influences and the technoscientific invention of visual systems to represent English (and other spoken languages), deaf educators and signers have played an active role in shaping their linguistic landscapes. She also examines the theoretical debates about the classification of signed languages. Drawing on her ethnographic findings in Cambodia and Indonesia, including the complex sociolinguistic dynamics of Cambodian signed languages, this talk highlights the interplay between linguistic agency, community collaboration, and the intentional design of visual communication systems. Funded by the Global Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme grant.
Casual Language:
Ever wonder how sign languages are shaped by their communities? Join us for a fascinating talk and Q&A with Dr. Erin Moriarty. Drawing on her real-world research in Cambodia and Indonesia, she will dive into the incredible, active history of Cambodian Sign Language (CSL) and the shaping of sign languages to reveal the complex social and linguistic dynamics at play. We'll Explore: Language Agents: Discover how signers in Cambodia and beyond have been the primary architects of their own linguistic worlds. The Global Picture: Learn about the deliberate ways signing communities engage with different systems, from the standardized use of International Sign (IS) to efforts to remove English influence on ASL. Visual Inventions: We'll look at ways visual systems have been designed (sometimes with technology!) to represent spoken languages like English.