Planning sign languages: promoting hearing hegemony? Conceptualizing sign language standardization

Abstract

In light of the absence of a codified standard variety in British Sign Language and German Sign Language (Deutsche Gebärdensprache) there have been repeated calls for the standardization of both languages primarily from outside the Deaf community. The paper is based on a recent grounded theory study which explored perspectives on sign language standardization among Deaf sign language teachers in Germany and the UK. The data which were generated over the course of 17 in-depth interviews indicate that participants perceived hearing educators and second language learners as key promoters and beneficiaries of sign language standardization and the very subject matter as posing a potential threat to languages and community. As calls for standardization from hearing people were perceived as a continuation of unequal power relations between Deaf and hearing people fighting over the sign language domain, it will be argued that the subject matter presents a case of ‘territorial rivalry’. Consequently, sign language planning initiatives need to be critically examined in the context of potential violation of Deaf community rights.