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Algerian Jewish Sign Language ii Ishara Research Series The Ishara Research Series is dedicated to current research in sign language linguistics and Deaf Studies. The series is designed for publications that are of current relevance to the field, but are not easily accommodated within the scope of conventional outlets. In addition, this innovative format is ideal for young researchers and first-time authors publishing work of high academic quality. The series is intended to be a tool for stimulating research in emerging areas, with particular emphasis on promoting Deaf authors and authors in countries where sign language studies and Deaf Studies are not established disciplines yet. Editorial board Anastasia Bradford Thierry Haesenne David McKee Connie de Vos iii Algerian Jewish Sign Language: its emergence and survival by Sara Lanesman iv Ishara Research Series No. 2 / Algerian Jewish Sign Language: its emergence and survival / Sara Lanesman / Lancaster: Ishara Press 2016. ISBN 978-0-9929221-0-8 Ishara Press International Deaf Empowerment Foundation 18 Sibsey Street Lancaster LA1 5DF United Kingdom [email protected] Cover design: Daniel Zeshan E-book first published 2016 v Contents CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION.................................................................................1 1.1 Sign languages and sign language using communities .................................2 1.2 Urban sign languages and Israeli Sign Language ..........................................4 1.3 Village sign languages ..................................................................................6 1.4 Village sign languages in Israel .....................................................................9 1.5 Algerian Jewish Sign Language ...................................................................11 1.5.1 The origins of the Jewish community in Algeria .................................11 1.5.2 The prevalence of deafness in Ghardaia, and the emergence of AJSL ................................................................................................12 1.5.3 The migration of members of the Ghardaia Jewish community to Israel ...............................................................................................13 1.6 Language endangerment and documentation ...........................................14 1.6.1 The transience of languages and the documentation of linguistic diversity ...............................................................................15 1.6.2 Assessign language endangerment ....................................................17 1.7 Research questions and structure of the thesis .........................................19 CHAPTER 2 – METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY ......................................................21 2.1 Sampling and selection of participants ......................................................21 2.2 Data collection ...........................................................................................25 2.3 Challenges encountered when collecting data ..........................................26 2.3.1 The influence of Israeli Sign Language and Hebrew ...........................27 2.3.2 The Observer’s Paradox. .....................................................................28 2.4 Types of data and data analysis .................................................................29 2.4.1. Biographical data ...............................................................................30 2.4.2 Historical and sociolinguistic data ......................................................30 2.4.3 Lexical elicitation ................................................................................35 2.5 Ethics and research ....................................................................................36 2.6 Summary ....................................................................................................37 CHAPTER 3 – AJSL in Algeria .................................................................................39 3.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................39 vi 3.2 Life in the mellah of Ghardaia ....................................................................40 3.3 Deafness in Ghardaia ................................................................................42 3.3.1 A myth about the origin of deafness in Ghardaia ...............................42 3.3.2 The relationship between hearing and deaf people ...........................43 3.3.3 The status of the deaf in Ghardaia .....................................................45 3.4 AJSL in Ghardaia .........................................................................................47 3.4.1 Communication in sign language ........................................................48 3.4.2 Acquisition of sign language (deaf and hearing) ................................48 3.5 Conclusion: The AJSL-using community in Ghardaia .................................51 CHAPTER 4 – AJSL in Israel ...................................................................................54 4.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................54 4.2 Relocation of people and dispersion of the population .............................55 4.3 Life in Israel ................................................................................................58 4.4 The AJSL-using community in Israel ..........................................................61 4.4.1 The attitude of the Deaf community towards Algerian deaf people.................................................................................................62 4.4.2 The attitude of the ALgerian immigrants towards the Deaf community in Israel ............................................................................64 4.4.3 Marriage patterns ..............................................................................65 4.4.4 Deaf education, language and literacy ...............................................66 4.5 AJSL in Israel ...............................................................................................68 4.5.1 Learning Israeli Sign Language ...........................................................68 4.5.2 Recent changes in attitudes towards AJSL and ISL ............................71 4.6 Conclusion: AJSL in Algeria and in Israel ....................................................73 CHAPTER 5 – LEXICAL COMPARISON OF AJSL AND ISL .........................................75 5.1 Lexical comparison .....................................................................................75 5.1.1 Previous studies that use lexical comparison .....................................75 5.1.2 Comparison of the lexica of AJSL and ISL ...........................................78 5.2 Sign from specific semantic domains within the AJSL lexicon ...................83 5.2.1 Number in AJSL ...................................................................................84 5.2.2 Family .................................................................................................88 5.2.3 Jewish festivals ...................................................................................93 vii 5.2.4 Colours................................................................................................97 5.2.5 Food ..................................................................................................100 5.2.6 ‘Deaf’ and ‘hearing’ ..........................................................................103 5.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................104 CHAPTER 6 – CONCLUSION ................................................................................106 6.1 Summary of research findings .................................................................106 6.2 The status of AJSL as an endangered language ........................................111 6.2.1 Evaluating the linguistic vitality of AJSL ............................................112 6.2.2 The function and transmission of AJSL .............................................114 6.3 Further research and the future of AJSL ..................................................116 APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRE ...........................................................................119 APPENDIX B: ELICITED LEXEMES (277) ...............................................................122 APPENDIX C: DOCUMANTATION OF SELECTED AJSL SIGNS ................................125 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................134 viii List of Figures and illustrations Figure 1.1 ..............................................................................................................11 Figure 1.2 ..............................................................................................................11 Figure 1.3 ..............................................................................................................14 Figure 1.4 ..............................................................................................................18 Table 2.1 ...............................................................................................................23 Figure 2.1 ..............................................................................................................24 Figure 2.2 ..............................................................................................................31
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