Linguists turn up volume on endangered sign languages

Two academics in linguistics will give voice to the normally silent world of Indigenous sign languages at Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute in Darwin this week.

Professor Marie Carla D. Adone and Yolngu Sign Language authority Dr Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama will co-present “Alternate Sign Languages in Arnhem Land” tomorrow. There, they will warn that some sign languages used by Indigenous people in the Northern Territory are almost extinct.

“Some of these alternate sign languages are in danger of becoming extinct because young people are not using them,” Professor Adone said.

“We will lose them unless something is done about it.”

The co-authors of the ground-breaking “A Grammar Sketch of Yolngu Sign Language”, will discuss sociolinguistic elements of several sign languages that are regarded as having been part of Indigenous culture for thousands of years.

“We will also look at their structural makeup, compare them with other sign languages and discuss their potential development paths,” Professor Adone said.

“It will be a continuation of the discussion we began with the launch last year of ‘Grammar Sketch’, where we discussed who uses Sign Language, where, when and with whom.”

Professor Adone said Yolngu Sing Language was typically used during ceremonies and for communicating at distance during hunting.

“It functions as a primary sign language for communicating to the deaf and as an alternate language when silence is required.

“It is important that we engage decision-makers, academics and the public in a conversation about this silent, invisible, valuable yet diminishing element of Indigenous culture.”

“Alternate Sign Languages in Arnhem Land” on Wednesday 26 March is a free event open to the public. It will be held in Yellow Building 1, Level 2, Room 48 at Casuarina Campus from 10am until 11.30am.