Deaf-related
Resources

International Sign Language
A Pathfinder

SCOPE

The scope of this pathfinder is the natural sign languages of other countries (or ethnic groups) than the United States (for example, Swedish Sign Language). It does not include pidgins or manually coded systems (for example, Signed Swedish). Remember, this pathfinder will not tell you about all the materials the Library has about sign languages in other countries You must do the basic research yourself. This pathfinder will guide you to the appropriate places to begin your search for information If you need further assistance, please ask at the Reference Desk.

INTRODUCTION

Many national or ethnic sign languages still have very little or nothing written about them, so don't be surprised if you can find nothing, or only a very little, about particular sign language. Please ask a librarian at the Reference Desk if you are having difficulty finding information

A good general introduction can be found in:

"Sign languages", in Gallaudet encyclopedia of deaf people and deafness. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1987, volume 3, pages 31-118. (On reserve at the Circulation Desk.)

This encyclopedia contains numerous articles about sign languages. They explain various aspects of sign languages, such as facial expression, history, other countries' sign languages, and more. The articles also have bibliographies which will help you find more information about this subject. Look in the index (back of Volume 3) under the name of the country that you want to find sign language information for. Be sure to ask a librarian for assistance if you are having trouble finding what you want.

Brief descriptions of a few national sign languages can also be found in:

Turkington, Carol, and Sussman, Allen E., eds. The encyclopedia of deafness and hearing disorders. New York: Facts on File, 1992. (In Ready Reference, at the Reference Desk.)

In this book, look up the sign languages under the English name of the language, not the name of the country. For example, look for "Dutch Sign Language" instead of "Netherlands".

On the World Wide Web, you can also find a long list and brief descriptions of recognized national and ethnic sign languages in the Ethnologue information site. Point your browser program to:

http://www.sil.org/ethnologue/families/Deaf_Sign_Language.html

When you search for the name of a country, don't forget to also check possible alternate names and spellings. For example, search both "Russia" and "Soviet Union"; "Taiwan" and "Hong Kong" as well as "China"; "Romania", "Rumania", and "Roumania". Also remember that, for example, Australian Aborigine Sign Language is not the same as Australian Sign Language. Remember, too, that some countries can have more than one sign language in them. For example, Mexico has both Mexican Sign Language and Yucatan Maya Sign Language, and Canada has both American Sign Language and Quebec Sign Language.

BOOKS

Books are good places to get in-depth information and the historical background of a subject. Hint: Don't forget to check the bibliography (list of resources) at the end of most books to find other sources of information!

To find books about different national sign languages using the Library's ALADIN online catalog, use the Local Catalog (also called CATS), then use the Word Search with these keywords:

+"sign language" +sweden [or the name of any other country]
+"finger spelling" +italy [or the name of any other country]
+gestuno

PERIODICALS

Periodicals (magazines, journals, and newspapers) are good places to find recent information on a topic. There are many different indexes that will help you find articles in periodicals. However, for international sign languages, patience and persistence are required to find articles on this topic. You can find periodical articles using online databases and printed indexes. The printed indexes are located on the Middle Level of the Library, across from the Circulation Desk. The online databases are in the ALADIN system. Some ALADIN terminals are available in front of the Reference Desk, and you can also connect to ALADIN from your own computer at home or in dorm or office. Select the Databases icon to go to the Articles Databases. Ask at the Reference Desk if you need assistance in using ALADIN.

Online indexes

For finding information about different sign languages using the ERIC index database in ALADIN, use the Keyword Search with these keywords (ERIC calls them "descriptors"):

sign language and china [or the name of any other country]
finger spelling and britain [or the name of any other country]

Printed indexes

In Language and linguistic behavior abstracts, use these subject headings:

Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Language
Sign Language

OTHER RESOURCES

Videotapes

Videotapes are available through the Circulation Desk. On ALADIN, in the Local Catalog (or CATS), use the following keywords in the Word Search:

+"sign language" +videorecording +russia [or the name of any other country]

Vertical files

Vertical files include materials such as newspaper clippings, brochures, maps, poetry, and other non-book printed material. To find information on international sign languages, look in the Deaf Subject File on the Lower Level of the Library, next to the Archives. Those files are kept locked. To use them, ask an Archives staff member for help. Use the following subject headings:

Sign Language-Israel [or the name of any other country]
Fingerspelling-Brazil [or the name of any other country]

Remember: If you are having trouble finding information, or if you would like additional help, please ask at the Reference Desk.

* * * * * * * * * *

Written by Carolyn Jones and Patrick Oberholtzer
Reference and Instruction Librarians
October 1995

Revised by Tom Harrington
Reference and Instruction Librarian
March 1997 and May 1998

Deaf-related Resources

International Sign Language A Pathfinder