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Canada's Maritime Sign Language THB UNIVBRSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATB STUDIES COPYRIGHT PBRMISSION Canada's Maritime Sign Language By Judith Yoel A Thesis/PI'acticum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the clegree of Doctor of Philosophy Judith YoelO2009 Permission has been grantecl to the University of Manitoba Libraries to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, to Library and Archives Canarla (LAC) to lencl a copy of this thesiiþracticum, and to LAC's agent (UMI/ProQuest) to microfilm, sell copies and to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reprocluction or copy of this thesis has been macle available by authority of the copyright olvner solely for the purpose of private stucly and research, and may only be reproducetl antl copied as permitted by copyright laws or lvith express written authorization from the copyright ownór. Canada's Maritime Sign Language by Judith Yoel A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of tvïanitoba in partial fulfilment of the requireri',ents of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Linguistics University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright O 2009 by Judith Yoet Abstract: Canada's Maritime Sign Language (MSL) This research undertakes the first comprehensive, academic study of Maritime Sign Language (MSL), a signed language used by elderly Deaf people in Canada's Maritime Provinces. Although the majority of Canada's Deaf population currently uses American Sign Language (ASL), some Deaf people continue tc use MSL, which is thought to stem from British Sign Language (BSL). ASL is quickly encroaching on MSL and is now the dominant language for Deaf people in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. There are an estimated fewer than 100 MSL users (Jim McDermott, personal communication). This research examines a signed language about which relatively little is known but which makes a significant contribution to the rich diversity, heritage and history of Canada's Deaf community. It examines the emergence, development and changes in MSL, focusing on language shift from MSL to ASL and the ensuing demise of MSL. This study caries out an examination of the lexicon and discourse. The lexical analysis confrrms that the roots of MSL lie in BSL. It also reveals the emergence of a nascent signed language, with a repertoire of unique MSL lexical items. A comparison of difFerent lexicons also establishes that the MSL lexicon is related to contemporary ASL. Thus, what is uncovered is a signed language that originated in BSt., ¡6*ished and developed, but whose development was cut short by language contact and shift to ASL. The discourse analysis reveals the increasingly significant and growing influence of ASL on MSL. MSL is examined in relation to language contact, identity and concepts of 'the self and 'the other.' Subjects' narrative discourse reveals that while structural difñrsion has already occurred in MSL, limited use of MSL lexical items and ritualized language remain. In spite of its weak status, some MSL users maintain and assert a unique MSL identity, separate from others, to which they are loyal. This identity offers them a sense of secudfy within a rapidly changing linguistic and cultural environment. This research confirms that MSL is moribund; it is beycnd revival and survival. It will die out with its last remaining users. Acknowledgements Gabi, en principio deseo expresaram a treves de pocas palabras, mi gratitude port u apoyo, ayuda, paciencia y comprencion ysin el coarse que tu me pas yo jamas podria llegar a hacerlo a sin vos! I thank Daniela;Naor and Boaz,who encourage me and inspire me to live life to its fullest- ¡ft ¡ft ¡-?t¡l ntf lt rr My special appreciation goes to Kate and Brad. I could not have done this without your endless guidance, advice and support - every step of the way. I thank Stephanie and my Mum who were a never-ending source of motivation. thank I the members of my committee, Dr. Terry Janzen, Dr. Rob Hagiwara, Dr. Charlotte Enns and Dr. Kevin Russell. I am grateful to Dr. Enns who employed me as graduate a student and provided ongoing encouragement, and to Dr. Hagiwara who served as a mentor, arole model and from whom I have leamed many valuable lessons, both as a professor and a human being. I owe many thanks to Dr. Janzen who was generous with his time and knowledge. I could never even have fulfilled my residency requirement in Winnipeg had it not been for the good friends I have made, Trudy, Amand4 Barbara and my friends at wEC- thank you! 'Words I also wish to thank Sþe and Annika. do not suffice in expressing .family, my appreciation to Gloria and Allan cantor, my in winnipeg. I am indebted to my fellow Kibbutzniks, particularly Revital and Tin4 whose continued and constant support I value. I am also gratefirl to Maya and sergio. This work could not have been ca:ried out without the help of the Deaf community in Nova scotia whose members were so willing to meet my many requests' I thank the professional consultants and wonderfril people with whom I have had the honour of working - Elizabeth Doull, Debbie Johnson-powell and Betty MacDonald in Nova Scotia and Roger Beeson and Frances Elton in London - your professional advice, experience and kindness made this work possible. I graciously appreciate all you have done. This work was enabled and supported by a very much-appreciated SHRCC doctoral grant.All errors and misconceptions are my o*,. Canadars Maritime Sign Language Contents Page Abstract: Canada's Maritime Sign Language (MSL) ...xii, xiii l. ChapterOne:AnIntroductiontoMaritimeSignLanguage. 1. Inhoduction. ......1 1.1 Historical Background of MSL. 1 .2 Sources of lnformation on MSL. ..5 1.2.1 Contact between the Atlantic provinces and the United KJngdom. ........6 1.2.2 Contact between the Atlantic provinces and the United States.. ...........10 I.2.3 A Deaf Collective in Atlantic Canada.. ....11 1.3 The Signifrcance of MSL Research. ............13 ChapterTwo: LiterafureReview. .............16 2- Introduction...... ....16 , 2.1 Language Contact. .......16 : 2.1.1 Diglossia. ^ ...........24 2.2 Language Shift... 2.3 Language Disappearance..... .' :, 2.4 Literature Review of Research Methods: Lexical Analysis. .............36 2.4.1 Lexicostatistics and the Swadesh List. ....... .. ..3g parkhwst 2.4.2 Parkhurst and List. .....41 2.5 Literature Review of Research Methods: Discourse Analysis ..-.......44 2.5.I Narratives. .....45 2.5.2 Social Networks, Semantic Domains and Shift. .........46 2.5.3 ldentity. .... ..... ...47 2.5.4 'The Sell and'The Other'. .............50 2.6 Conclusion...... .......54 Chapter Three: Research Methods. :. .... ....55 3 Purpose of this work. ........55 3.1 Subjects...... .........55 3.2 General Procedure .. .. .....56 3.3 Data Collection. ......59 3.4 Consultants...... 3.4.1 The MSL and ASL Consultants. ...;... ........61 3.4.2The BSL Consultants.. .....62 3.5 DataAnalysis. ..........63 3.5.1 DataAnalysis: The Lexicon...... .....63 3 .5,2 D ata Analysis : Discourse. 3.6 Conclusion: Research Methods...... ..........69 Chapter Four: Results, Lexical Analyses. -...........71 4. Introduction, A Lexical Analysis.. ...-..71 4.1 Swadesh List: Identical Signs in MSL, ASL and BSL... .... .....72 4.1.1 SwadeshList:IdenticalSignsinMSLandASL. ..........74 4.1.2 Swadesh Lisr: Identical Signs in MSL and BSL. ...... .....75 4.1.3 Swadesh Lisr: MSL and BSL, pinky and Thumb Extension. ........76 4.1.4 Swadesh List: Similar Signs. .....g0 4.1.5 Swadesh List: Different Signs. .......g6 4.2 Parkhurst and Parkhurst List: Identical Signs in MSL, ASL and 8SL.......... .....94 4.2.1 Parkhwst and Parkhurst List: Similar Signs. .........97 4.2.2Park<hurst and Parkhurst List: Different Signs. .......100 4-3.1 Al,exical Comparison: Conclusions.. .,...,.. ............107 4.4 Additional Sources of MSL Lexicon. .....109 4.4.1 Additional Sources of MSL Lexicon: The canadian Dictionary of ASL. ....1 1l 4-4.2 Additional sources of MSL Lexicon: Signs volunteered by a Subject.. .........119 4.4.3 Additional Sources of MSL Lexicon: MSL Dictionary.. .....124 4.4.4 Additional sources of MSL Lexicon: Maritime Deaf Heritage .....135 4.4.5 Additional Sources of MSL Lexicon: A Summary ........13g 4.5 Results of the Lexical Analysis.. 4.5.1 Results of the Lexical Analysis and sociolinguistic Theory. .........r44 4.5.2 Conclusions.. ....147 chapterFive:MSLRetentionandshiftinsubjects,Narratives...................l4g 5. Introduction, MSL Retention and shift in Subjects' Narratives. .. .. ......r4g 5.1 Language Shift: Social Networks. ..... ...150 5.2Langtage Shift: MSL Retention in Semantic Domains. .......153 5.2.1 MSL Retention in semantic Domains: Kinship Terms. ...r54 5.2.2 MSL Retention in semantic Domains: School-related Terminology...... ............161 5.2.3 MSL Retention in Semantic Domains: Religion. ...164 5.2.4 MSL Retention in semantic Domains: personal connections...........166 lll 5.2.5 MSL Retention in semantic Domains: The Numeral system. ....r6g 5.2.6 MSL Retention in semantic Domains: Ritualized Language. ....r74 5.3. Language Shift: Repetition. ........17g 5.3.1 MSL Retention: Repetition, Lexical ltems from One Semantic Domain and ldentity......: ......193 , 5.4 Language Shift and Hybrid Signs. ...19g 5.5 conclusion: MSL Retention and shift in subjects' Narratives... ... ... ...,.L92 .the Chapter Six: Identify and 'The Self and Other'...... ...................193 6. Intooduction: Identþ and 'The Self and'the Other' .....193 6.1 MSL ldentity. .:..... ...193 6.1.1 MSL Group ldentity. .....196 6.1.2 MSL Identity and Language Contact ..........199 6.1.3 MSL Language Loyalty. ........200 6.1.4 New Language Loyalty. ...........202 6.1.5 Attitudes towmd MSL. .....203 6.1.6 The MSL Social Network. ......20g 6.2 'The Self and'the Other' .....216 6.2.1'The Self and 'the Other,: Older MSL Users and YoungerASlUsers .............21g 6.2-2 'The Self and'the other': MSL users who Have Become ASL Users .
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