Linguistics Colloquium: Shirit Cohen-Koka, Bracha Nir, Irit Meir

29/03/2022 - 15:30 - 14:00Add To Calendar 2022-03-29 14:00:00 2022-03-29 15:30:00 Linguistics Colloquium: Shirit Cohen-Koka, Bracha Nir, Irit Meir Shirit Cohen-Koka, Bracha Nir, Irit Meir, University of Haifa Title: Linguistic Variability from a Comparative Perspective: Insights from Discourse Analysis in Israeli Sign Language Abstract: Over recent years, various studies have dealt with the linguistic characterization of discourse and its types, particularly narrative and expository texts. Linguistic diversity is an important component of language, which testifies to its linguistic richness and to the speakers-signers’ linguistic skills. Most of the studies conducted in the field of discourse analysis and language variability have examined the linguistic aspects of spoken languages. Linguistic diversity in discourse contexts produced in sign languages have been examined in only a few studies.             Sign languages are natural human languages recognized nowadays as rich and complex linguistic systems, including constructional and functional components on a par with spoken languages. However, these features are expressed and coded through means that are unique to the visual-spatial channel in which the language is produced. Study of linguistic diversity based on signed productions makes it possible to learn how the physical-communicative channel in which the language is conveyed affects the linguistic usage of the speaker, as well as the way linguistic diversity is actualized in sign language.             Linguistic diversity may be expressed at various levels of the linguistic structure of sign languages. In the lecture, two central linguistic aspect will be in focus: the use of signing space and sign parameters - as it appears in narrative versus expository texts produced by deaf native signers. The findings reveal a discourse type effect on the way that these aspects are expressed and highlight the importance of discourse and linguistic knowledge to interpreters to sign language, educators of deaf students and researchers of languages/sign languages. The study was motivated by the need for accessibly presenting knowledge and awareness of linguistic diversity in sign language.   Subscribe to our Telegram channel to get notified about upcoming talks and events אוניברסיטת בר-אילן internet.team@biu.ac.il Asia/Jerusalem public

Shirit Cohen-Koka, Bracha Nir, Irit Meir, University of Haifa

Title: Linguistic Variability from a Comparative Perspective: Insights from Discourse Analysis in Israeli Sign Language

Abstract:

Over recent years, various studies have dealt with the linguistic characterization of discourse and its types, particularly narrative and expository texts. Linguistic diversity is an important component of language, which testifies to its linguistic richness and to the speakers-signers’ linguistic skills. Most of the studies conducted in the field of discourse analysis and language variability have examined the linguistic aspects of spoken languages. Linguistic diversity in discourse contexts produced in sign languages have been examined in only a few studies.

            Sign languages are natural human languages recognized nowadays as rich and complex linguistic systems, including constructional and functional components on a par with spoken languages. However, these features are expressed and coded through means that are unique to the visual-spatial channel in which the language is produced. Study of linguistic diversity based on signed productions makes it possible to learn how the physical-communicative channel in which the language is conveyed affects the linguistic usage of the speaker, as well as the way linguistic diversity is actualized in sign language.

            Linguistic diversity may be expressed at various levels of the linguistic structure of sign languages. In the lecture, two central linguistic aspect will be in focus: the use of signing space and sign parameters - as it appears in narrative versus expository texts produced by deaf native signers. The findings reveal a discourse type effect on the way that these aspects are expressed and highlight the importance of discourse and linguistic knowledge to interpreters to sign language, educators of deaf students and researchers of languages/sign languages. The study was motivated by the need for accessibly presenting knowledge and awareness of linguistic diversity in sign language.

 

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Last Updated Date : 28/02/2022