A Sociocultural Perspective on Young Deaf Children's Fingerspelling: An Ethnographic Study in a Signing Setting.

This study, which is part of a larger longitudinal ethnographic study of young deaf children, reports on deaf children's use of fingerspelling. The children observed were early signers using Swedish Sign Language (SSL) in communication with teachers and peers. This study centres on the functions of...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Deafness & Education International Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 86 - 108
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jun2014
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:This study, which is part of a larger longitudinal ethnographic study of young deaf children, reports on deaf children's use of fingerspelling. The children observed were early signers using Swedish Sign Language (SSL) in communication with teachers and peers. This study centres on the functions of fingerspelling in the children's everyday activities from a sociocultural perspective. Two main functions are identified (Theme I) developing the manual alphabet through performing and experimenting with fingerspelling as an integrated part of using Sign Language, and (Theme II) using fingerspelling as an artefact and identity marker in play.