International guest lecture by Octavian Robinson

10 April 2024

Photo: UHH/IDGS

The summer semester 2024 has started and so did our series of international guest lectures at the IDGS. The series kicked off on 10. April 2024 with Prof. Octavian Robinson from Gallaudet University, live via ZOOM. Due to the different time zones, this lecture did not take place at the usual 10 am time slot, but at 4 pm. He introduced us to the extremely exciting topic of "Crip Linguistics". The term was developed by Jon Henner († 2023) and Octavian Robinson and further developed by Robinson, who formulated it as a proposal for a theoretical framework for linguistics in relation to ableism. Ableism manifests itself on a social and political level. However, ableism also occurs at a linguistic level, for example when sign languages are regarded as inferior to spoken languages. Therefore, a different specific critical term is required, namely the framework of "crip linguistics".

When analyzing how certain linguistic forms and forms of communication are used in different languages, it should be noted that in some languages certain forms are considered important and indispensable, while other forms are less important. Crip linguistics can, thus, be used to uncover and describe cases of discrimination that are triggered by inappropriate linguistic forms and behavior patterns.

Embedded in a historical outline of previous research, Octavian's exciting topic gave us a new impetus as to how ableism can be described in relation to language and the subject of linguistics. The audience was fascinated by this highly interesting two-hour lecture.

(Video above is in DGS)