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Review of Signing and Belonging in Nepal by Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 37 Number 1 Article 27 June 2017 Review of Signing and Belonging in Nepal by Erika Hoffmann- Dilloway Theresia Hofer Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Hofer, Theresia. 2017. Review of Signing and Belonging in Nepal by Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway. HIMALAYA 37(1). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol37/iss1/27 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Review is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This book analyzes, describes, and incorporates in crisp and clear fashion these differing narratives of Bhutan as Shangri-La or as a society with the same types of problems found around the rest of the planet. Michael Givel on The Dragon’s Voice: How Modern Media Found Bhutan of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008), Politicians in any nation with an research and teaching specialization “[a] Bhutanese citizen shall have the independent press are often not includes: comparative public policy, right to freedom of speech, opinion pleased when some of their actions Himalayan area studies, policy theory, and expression” (Article 7, Section and maneuverings are exposed for complexity theory, social movements, and 1 related to Fundamental Rights) public perusal and review. All of health policy. and,“[t]here shall be freedom of this is an indication that Bhutan the press, radio and television in is democratizing. Adding to this media outlets in Bhutan reporting is the fact that several Bhutanese on numerous topics” (Article 7, newspapers now exist with differing Section 5). Freedom of the press has perspectives on current affairs. included robust reporting of such Interestingly though, most Bhutanese topics as scandals, culture, religion, still do not read newspapers. Only human interest, social problems like a number of the educated class alcoholism, and politics. Only three regularly or even occasionally read topics are not currently covered news stories. Bhutan is still very in Bhutanese news accounts: the much an oral society. So, the role of Nepalese refugee issue, the royal media reporting is evolving slowly, family, and border discussions with but operates in tandem with long China. held cultural trends in Bhutan. Signing and Belonging in Nepal. Prior to the adoption of the written All of these complex and nuanced constitution in 2008, Bhutan from trends are documented in this Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway. 1907 to 2008 was a hereditary fascinating book that successfully Washington DC: Gallaudet University monarchy. In relation to the modern opens a window for a general Press, 2016. 135 pages. ISBN trend since 2008 of independent audience as well as Bhutanese, Asian, 9781563686641. and vibrant media coverage and and Himalayan studies scholars on due to long-lived cultural traditions the development of modern trends in Reviewed by Theresia Hofer of respect for hierarchy, some Bhutan. The reports by the Bhutanese This book offers the first full-length Bhutanese are uncomfortable with media, as author Bunty Avieson ethnography of Deaf people and their reporters questioning authority clearly and carefully shows in this varied communication practices in as reporters now routinely do. timely book, is one important source Nepal. Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway has Nevertheless, as the book documents to comprehend how modern Bhutan, engaged with Deaf people and studied in a thorough manner, traditions of with issues like all other nations in Nepali Sign Language (NSL) since social hierarchy are slowly breaking the world, continues to develop and 1997, when she came to the country down. And, not surprisingly, those in democratize. through a study abroad program. power are not always happy with this Michael Givel is Professor of Political Based on long-established friendships new dynamic of the press reporting Science at The University of Oklahoma. and work with members of the on their actions and dealings. For He was the first US Fulbright in Bhutan in National Federation of the Deaf Nepal readers in nations where this has 2009, and is the curator for the University (NFDN), she tells a fascinating story been happening on a long-term of Oklahoma Bhutanese digital rare of how Deaf activists countered their basis, this should sound familiar. and historical document collection. His plight of being seen as karmically HIMALAYA Volume 37, Number 1 | 153 and ritually polluted and polluting. people rejected and even discouraged the hearing owner) can embody They did so by aligning themselves the use of. The social mediation bikas, “development,” and espouse with the ethno-linguistic frameworks and promotion of such indexical “disability rights.” newly emergent across the country notions of particular signs, and The great strength of the book lies during Nepal’s “People’s War,” in indeed the many encounters drawn in the author’s lucid interweaving which Maoist-allied forces aimed to on in the book, took place during of linguistic analysis of the indexical turn the Hindu-led monarchy into a the tumultuous decade from the connotations of Deaf Nepalis’ less hierarchically-governed, multi- first agitation by the Maoist People’s communicative practices with the ethnic republic. And yet, particularly Liberation Army in 1996 to the daily manifestations of language in the urban centers that remained signing of the Maoist and Seven Party ideologies, including but not largely controlled by the Nepalese Alliance peace accord in 2006. limited to the “linguistic monolith” army, efforts were at the same time The main thesis of the book is that (Irvine, Judith and Susan Gal. 2000. made to link lexical items of NSL to in this period, a new Deaf jat, or “Language Ideology and Linguistic symbols of high-caste Hindu cultural “kind,” as well as novel and related Differentiation.” In Regimes of Language: practices. Deaf socialities could be imagined Ideologies, Polities, and Identities, edited For instance, the correct, “standard” in radically fresh ways, diverging by Paul Kroskrity, 35-84. Santa Fe, NSL sign for “mother” was socially from deaf Nepalis’ previously NM: School of American Research constructed to be a bent index finger regarded status as often low, Press) and “personalism” (Hill, Jane. at the side of the nose followed by polluted, and polluting. In the three 2008. The Everyday Language of White the finger being laid near the side main ethnographic chapters and Racism. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell). of the mouth. It was also depicted Hoffmann-Dilloway’s expertly chosen While Hoffmann-Dilloway offers more in NSL dictionaries, whose artists vignettes, we see these processes of detailed analysis pertaining to these and compilers understood the sign imagination and realization at work. and other debates in linguistic and as pointing to a nose-ring (or stud), Firstly, they are shown in the lives, linguistic anthropology journals, the and thereby indexing in these work, and language practices of current book provides a great way in drawings social groups in which NSL users in urban centers (Chapter for students and also non-specialists. women wore this kind of jewelry, Three). Thereafter, Hoffmann- The Introduction and Chapter in particular caste Hindus. Anyone Dilloway explores these processes Three focus on what NSL as a familiar with the cultural diversity among those who rely to various “mother tongue” for Deaf Nepalis of Nepal will, however, know that extents on “homesigns” (i.e. signs may mean and are a must for any women in other social groups, such created in the home between deaf and anthropologist of Nepal. They as the Newars and Sherpas, tend to hearing family members) and are only give a valuable extension of long- not wear such jewelry (or, for that able to partially draw on NSL (Chapter standing anthropological debates matter, the bright red color in the Four). And finally, the encounters on “ethnicity” and language in clothing depicted in some of the of hearing people with Deaf waiting Nepal to the kinds of socialities dictionaries). A common alternative staff at the Bakery Café chain in emerging from new and mainly sign for “mother” in the homes of Kathmandu are examined (Chapter visual modes of communication. The Deaf people was pointing to the Five), where instead of perceiving discussion of how homesigners can breast, which those working for the Deaf employees as polluting the be included and excluded through the cause of socially elevating Deaf food they serve, customers (and their respective mirroring or copying 154 | HIMALAYA Spring 2017 The author thus drives home a key contribution of linguistic anthropology: namely, the ever-shifting nature and boundaries of “languages” and their co-production with people within wider social and political formations. Theresia Hofer on Signing and Belonging in Nepal of NSL in Chapter Four makes an moment” for ethnic and social Fellow at the University of Bristol as well important contribution to the study groups in Nepal (cf. Shneiderman, as a research associate at the University of gesture and homesign systems. Sara. 2013. “Developing a Culture of Oxford’s Institute of Social and Cultural It also sheds new light on debates of Marginality: Nepal’s Current Anthropology, UK. She has written an regarding second sign language Classificatory Moment.” Focal: Journal ethnography and various articles about acquisition in relation to the so- of Global and Historical Anthropology Tibetan medical practitioners and called ‘critical window’ of language 65: 42-55). And yet, a new “territory” memories of Communist reforms in the development in (deaf) children. in the “Deaf World” (Lane, Harlan. Tibet Autonomous Region, China, and Taken altogether, this book succeeds 2005.
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