WALC2017 Plenary 1 KAMEI Nobutaka August 1, 2017 University

WALC2017 Plenary 1 August 1, 2017 KAMEI Nobutaka University of Educaon, Winneba, Ghana

The 30th West African Languages Congress (WALC2017) organized by the West African Linguistic Society (WALS/SLAO) August 1, 2017, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

} Cultural anthropologist / linguistic anthropologist } Doing fieldwork in West and Central Africa since 1996 } Doctoral thesis: hunter-gatherer children in the tropical rain forest of Cameroon KAMEI Nobutaka, Dr. } Research topics: minorities in African societies Professor, Aichi Prefectural University, Japan (hunter-gatherers; children without school Visiting Professor, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d'Ivoire education; people with disabilities; Deaf communities…) } Certified Japanese Sign Language interpreter } Husband of the Deaf partner

} This presentation shows the general } In the first part, I show the outline of the situations of sign languages in West Africa distribution and the history of sign languages and the role of sign language research based in West Africa. on my long-term fieldwork in nine countries (in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, } In the second part, I show the on-going Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon and research activities on sign language and Deaf

Gabon) since 1997. communities with focusing on the examples of collaborative research in French-speaking areas.

} In the third part, I mention the importance of } In Africa, it is said that American Sign the research on the local sign language with Language (ASL) is widely diffused. the Deaf community. } Not only in Anglophone } As a conclusion, I present the role of sign } But also in Francophone language research for the integration and the development of Deaf communities in West Africa and future research issues. Map: Map: Diffusion

French- of ASL speaking countries

} [In part 1] What were the historical } 1997-2017 backgrounds of the diffusion of ASL in West } Fieldwork in nine countries in Africa Africa? What kind of sign languages are used } today in these areas? Participant observation and interviews in Deaf communities with using their local sign languages } [In part 2] What research activities are conducted today especially in French- speaking West Africa?

} [In part 3] How can we develop sign language researches in West Africa?

} During the era of colonial rule by France, Britain and Belgium, there existed no school education for the deaf in West and Central Africa. } It was 1957, the year of the independence of Ghana, when Andrew J. Foster, an American Deaf pastor/educator, founded the first school for the Legacies of Andrew J. Foster deaf in these areas in Accra. He also continued

and his Deaf colleagues his activities in Nigeria from 1960. } This missionary activity introduced American Sign Language (ASL) for the first time in Africa.

First school: Senegal 1 Chad 4 Accra (Ghana) Central African Rep. 1 In 1957

Kenya Schools for the Deaf Guinea Sierra Leone Burkina Faso 2 Cote d’Ivoire 1 Sunday Ghana 2 Burundi 1 schools or Togo1 DR Congo 12 Dr. Andrew J. Foster (1925-1987) Benin 1 churches for A Deaf African-American Nigeria 3 the Deaf Cameroon 1 “Father of Deaf Education in Africa” Gabon1 R Congo (Kamei 2006)

} In 1973, his mission founded the Christian 1st stage 2nd stage Center for the Deaf in Ibadan, Nigeria for the 35 purpose of the training for the teachers in 30

s French-speaking countries. l

o 25 o

h English-speaking French-speaking c s

20 f countries countries o

} r The series of teacher-training courses in e 15

b (Ghana and (many)

m Ibadan (1976-1987) invited at least 161 u 10 N Nigeria) 5 trainees from at least 19 countries in Africa.

0 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Year

} Every year, the teachers from the Republic of CMD trainees’ Benin came to Ibadan to work as the sign language instructors for the training courses. French-speaking countries countries } Victor Vodounou } Marius Titus } Serge Tamomo } Ahoé Abou

} All were Deaf instructors from Benin.

(Kamei 2006)

} After the training, these trainees returned to their homeland to become teachers for deaf children and became the core persons who created their transnational sign language.

} The schools and churches for the deaf Photos and field data: by KAMEI Nobutaka School data: Christian Mission for the Deaf founded and managed by them in urban (http://www.cmdeaf.org/ Accessed on July 28, 2017) areas became the nodes of the signing communities.

} 1957 Accra (photo) (moved to Mampong- } The school was taken by the government Akwapim in 1959) } The activities of churches and associations } 1957 Accra (Adult school) } Developed Ghanaian Sign Language

School in Osu, Accra The birthplace of Deaf church Deaf education in Osu, Accra in West Africa 2006 1957

} 1960 Ibadan (photo) } Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War 1967-1970) } 1962 Enugu-Nsukka damaged the schools for the Deaf } 1962 Kaduna } The schools were taken by the government } 1973 Center in Ibadan } The activities of Deaf Christians in Ibadan School in Ibadan, 1960s } Developed Nigerian Sign Language Center in Ibadan, 2006 Church in Lagos, 2006

} 1974 Abidjan } 1976 Lomé } Foster negotiated with the President Félix } Hearing pastor founded several deaf schools Houphouët-Boigny and founded the first school in French-speaking Africa. } The school was taken by the government

Deaf boys playing soccer in Abidjan A classroom in 1979 in Lomé, Togo 2017 (Photo by CMD)

} 1976 Mondou } 1977 Dakar } 1986 N'Djamena } Most of the students were/are Muslims. } 1987 Sarh } The school is continued by Christians. } 1996 Center in N'djamena } Continued the connection with CMD, the Deaf pupils in Dakar, 2016 Foster family also after the Death of Andrew. } Partly influenced by LSF (French SL) ?

Deaf pastor from Chad presenting in Kyoto, Japan 2015

} 1977 Cotonou } 1977 Kumba } Many Deaf instructors of CMD } Some schools introduced LSF (French SL) } Published sign language books Books published in Benin,

2002 Deaf pupils in Kumba, 2002

Kumba school, 1977 Serge and Nana Tamomo

} 1977 Bangui } 1979 Kinshasa } 1986 Matadi } 1982 Bunia-Nyankunde } 1987 Kisangani Members of National Association of the Deaf } 1983 Lubumbashi } 1987 Gemena in CAR, met in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2002 } 1983 Kalemie } 2002 Uvira } 1984 Bukavu Deaf school in DRC, 1985 } 1985 Likasi } 1985 Goma } 1985 Kolwezi } 1985 Kamina } 1985 Mbuji-Mayi

} 1980 Ouagadougou } 1981 Bujumbura } 1983 Bobo Dioulasso } A school managed by the hearing (Ouaga) } “ASL signs with spoken French” observed by and a school managed by the Deaf (Bobo) Dr. Harlan Lane, an American researcher Ouagadougou, 1981 Bobo Dioulasso, 1984 } Lane, Harlan, Robert J. Hoffmeister & Benjamin Bahan. 1996. A Journey into the Deaf-World. San Diego: Dawn Sign Press.

} 1982 Libreville } The school was nationalized } The government introduced LSF (French SL) Deaf church in Libreville, 2013

English-speaking countries and French-speaking countries

} Sign languages in West Africa have been } In Ghana and Nigeria, the Deaf communities considered as the various dialects of ASL in have developed their own sign languages the world. based on ASL, spoken/written English and } For example, in the page for “ASL” in local signs created by the Deaf. Ethnologue reported that ASL was also used } in various African countries. Today, they have their own language names: ◦ Ghanaian Sign Language } ASL (Ethnologue) ◦ Nigerian Sign Language Also used in Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso, Gabon, RD Congo, Central Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Kenya, Madagascar, Benin, Togo, } In the west part of Cameroon (Anglophone): Zimbabwe the sign language is similar, not named yet

} In French-speaking countries, the Deaf communities have developed their own sign languages based on ASL, spoken/written Written French and local signs created by the Deaf. French } However, they do not have their own ASL-like language name. signs

A classroom in 1979 in Lomé, Togo (Photo by CMD)

West &Central } After the process of the language contact USA Africa France between spoken/written French and ASL, } Language African Deaf communities developed a new contact sign language with loan words of ASL and English French grammatical characters of French.

American French Sign Language Sign Language

(Kamei 2006)

} Through a long-term fieldwork that started in } The field data and the products of several 1997 and the discussions among the Deaf dictionaries of this sign language edited by community, Deaf Africans support the recognition that the } this sign language recently started to be name of this sign language is now changing considered as a newly constructed and the identity of the African Deaf independent sign language that differs from community is also shifting. ASL, because of these characteristics:

} - Large influence of spoken/written French } - Vocabulary of African contexts

} A sign language dictionary } Langue des Signes d’Afrique Francophone published in Benin (LSAF) (Francophone African Sign Language) } Edited by Serge Tamomo, a is a generic term for sign languages used in Deaf pastor from Benin, one of Deaf communities in French-speaking West the successor of A. J. Foster, and Central Africa with (1) loan signs from ASL and (2) an influence of spoken/written } Le langage des signes du French (= Contact sign languages made of ASL sourd Africain francophone and French in Africa). } (Sign language of the French- } Some Deaf communities started to use this speaking African Deaf) name. } …not “ASL”

} Ecoute mes mains : dictionnaire de langue des signes } (Listen to my hands: Sign language dictionary) Dictionaries and congresses } They call their language: Langue des Signes d’Afrique Francophone- dialecte de Côte d’Ivoire

Around 3,300 movie clips (7 hours 40 min.) } As a research project of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan (TUFS), the first } Dictionary (2,600 words) dictionary project of LSAF started in 2007. } Lessons (450 phrases) } Created the first DVD movie dictionary in } Conversation (110 ph.) 2008 with the collaborations of the Deaf } Grammar (150 ph.) community in Yaoundé. } Natural dialogues (2 sessions)

} As a research project of the Grant-in-Aid by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS Kakenhi), the second dictionary project of LSAF started in 2008. } After the interruption by the military crisis in Workshops on sign language research Côte d’Ivoire, it continues till today with the in WOCAL collaborations of the Deaf community in Abidjan.

} World Congress of African Linguistics } 2. Aims and Objectives (WOCAL) is a congress held in every 3 years. } 2.3 To stimulate research and linguistic studies } In 2009, they started to include sign on African languages, both spoken and signed. language workshop in the congress. } 2.7 To create awareness in the academic circles } Also they included the research on African as much as in the general public for the need to recognize the African languages, both spoken sign languages in the objectives of the and signed, as indispensable resources for constitution of WOCAL. individual, social, cultural, political and economic } I participated all the sign language workshops development of their speakers. held in 2009, 2012 and 2015. } http://www.wocal.rutgers.edu/

} The first sign language workshop was held. } The 2nd sign language workshop was held. } 11 presentations (by 14 presenters) on sign } 7 presentations (by 7 presenters) on sign languages in West and Central Africa, Mali, languages in Nigeria, Cameroon, West and Ghana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, Central Africa, Uganda, East Africa and South South Africa, Mauritius and Africa in general. Africa. } Also, an Ugandan Deaf Sign language } Also, Sign language researcher was invited as the plenary researchers (Deaf presenter. researchers from Uganda and Belgium) were invited as the plenary presenters.

} The 3rd sign language workshop was held. } The 9th World Congress of African Linguistics } 10 presentations (by 11 presenters) on sign (WOCAL9) languages in Chad, Cameroon, Ethiopia, } August 23-26, 2018, Faculty of Letters and Kenya, Botswana and South Africa. Human Sciences, Mohammed V University- Agdal Rabat, Rabat, Morocco) } Sign language researchers (Ivorian Deaf } Theme "African Languages in a Global World,” researcher and Kamei) were invited as the } including "Proposed sub-theme: African Sign plenary presenters (on West and Central Languages" Africa, Côte d’Ivoire). } The 4th sign language workshop is expected to be held. } http://nimarrabat.nl/en/news/conference/

} Published in March 2017 in } Sign language workshops English. } 2009: 5 presenters out of 14 were Deaf } All the articles of the } 2012: 3 presenters out of 7 were Deaf proceedings will be available on } 2015: 6 presenters out of 11 were Deaf the web (under construction). } The article of the plenary } Plenary presentations on sign language research presentation by us (Yédê and } 2009: 1 Deaf presenter (Uganda) Kamei) will be available on the } 2012: 2 Deaf presenters (Uganda and Belgium) web (Kamei’s Laboratory). } 2015: 1 Deaf + 1 hearing presenters (Côte d'Ivoire and Japan)

} It is very important to provide sign language interpreting service for the congress in order to promote sign language research and accept Deaf presenters and participants. WOCAL6, 2009 WOCAL8, 2015 A case of the experiences in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

} In order to promote sign language research, } 2008: started to promote the idea of the it is necessary for the researcher second dictionary project of LSAF in Cote } 1) to learn and use sign language; d’Ivoire. } 2) to organize a research team consisted of } 2010: We started the research training with Deaf members; Deaf counterparts in Abidjan. } 3) to have research training for the Deaf; } 2012: the first dictionary (book) was } 4) and to work for the enlightenment of sign published. language and linguistic rights of the Deaf } 2017: editing a DVD visual dictionary community.

} [In part 1] What were the historical backgrounds of the diffusion of ASL in West Africa? What kind of sign languages are used today in these areas?

} [In part 2] What research activities are For the integration and development conducted today especially in French-

of Deaf communities in West Africa speaking West Africa?

} [In part 3] How can we develop sign language researches in West Africa?

} [In part 1] What were the historical } [In part 1] What kind of sign languages are backgrounds of the diffusion of ASL in West used today in these areas? Africa? } In English-speaking Africa, they developed } There existed the international educational Ghanaian/Nigerian Sign Language. activities by an African-American Deaf pastor } In French-speaking Africa, a contact sign and his colleagues, the Deaf Africans. They language derived from ASL and spoken/ did their work widely in West Africa and it written French is widely used. resulted in the wide diffusion of ASL. } Some Deaf people started to call it “LSAF (Langue des Signes d’Afrique Francophone).”

} [In part 2] What research activities are } [In part 3] How can we develop sign language conducted today especially in French- researches in West Africa? speaking West Africa? } It is important to conduct researches with } Some trials to edit dictionaries of LSAF have organizing local Deaf research team. been started. However, not enough. } It is also important to conduct researches } International exchanges of researches on with respecting the linguistic rights of the African sign languages have been started with Deaf community. accepting Deaf researchers.

} Fortunately, West Africa has good conditions for } To promote sign language researches in every the international research collaborations. country in West Africa } 1) Most of these countries share the same } To encourage Deaf persons to be involved in the historical backgrounds; linguistic research in the universities } 2) similar basic vocabulary derived from ASL; } To provide academic congresses and seminars } 3) and similar sign languages developed by Deaf with sign language interpreters to accept Deaf Africans. persons } With using these historical legacies of the Deaf, } To provide opportunities of academic trainings we can start descriptive research on sign for sign language interpreters languages for the integration and development of } WALC can be one of the important opportunities Deaf communities in West Africa. for Deaf communities and sign languages!

} } Special grant for faculty members by the President, Aichi History of Deaf people and Prefectural University, Japan sign languages in Africa: } JSPS Grant-in-Aid (A) "Anthropology of Fieldwork in the "kingdom" responsiveness" (Chief: Shimizu Hiromu) } JSPS Grant-in-Aid (C) "The theory of language and derived from Andrew J. Foster knowledge as resources through the descriptive research } Tokyo: Akashi Shoten on Langue des Signes d'Afrique Francophone" (Chief: Kamei Nobutaka) } An ethnography on Deaf } Collaborators in African Deaf communities communities } Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d'Ivoire } } Professor Firmin Ahoua, Professor Constantine Yuka and Award for Excellent Work, the board members of WALS/SLAO Japan Society for International } Staff of WALC 2017 (Ghana) Development (2007) } Akiyama Nami, my wife (Deaf Japanese) } All the participants of this plenary presentation