SignWriting List
August 12, 2005

ABSTRACT
Rissanen Niina
Writing Sign Language:
A Survey of Emergent Sign Language Literacy in the Deaf Community
Autumn 2003

72 p. 12 appendices
The Diaconia Polytechnic, Turku Unit
Degree Programme in Sign Language Interpretation
Sign Language Interpreter (210 ECTS credits)

The aim of the present thesis was to survey and present the subject of emergent Sign Language Literacy. The subject was chosen due to its significance but also for its novelty, since no previous study on the subject has been made in Finland.

The thesis is based on the idea that Sign Languages can be written as any other languages. As an evidence for that, it is referred to the history of writing spoken languages, the structural features of both spoken and signed languages as well as the communities that already use the written form of Sign Language. Special attention is drawn to the system called SignWriting and its users. On SignWriting, a three-phased survey was made in which the first phase was accomplished in the form of a personal interview, the second one was a questionnaire whereas in the third phase information was gathered via the Internet and through personal contacts.

The results of the study show that Sign Languages can be and actually are written languages, even though it is not a widely spread conception among the Deaf. While writing spoken language is a well-established way of writing in many Deaf communities, written Sign Language provides its users with additional, remarkable possibilities. At present, in many countries the first generation of the Deaf is becoming literate in their native language, and an increasing amount of Deaf and Hearing signers are realizing the value of written Sign Language. On the basis of the survey it is suggested that Sign Language is not only a language in its own right but it is also suitable to be used in a written form of communication.

Keywords: Sign Language; writing systems; literacy; reading; writing; survey; qualitative research.

The study is stored at the Diaconia Polytechnic, Turku Unit.