German Sign Language and
Communication of the Deaf
Photo: UHH/Denstorf
21 October 2019
Photo: IDGS
On October 16 we were glad to welcome Prof. Dr. Lionel Antonio Tovar of the Universidad del Valle in Cali (School of Language Sciences) in Colombia at the IDGS. Mr Tovar presented the topic: „Columbian Sign Language and Studies on Definitions in Sign Languages, School project in bilingual classroom“.
Within a six years lasting project the team thought worked on finding ways for a better bilingual education of Deaf children who did not have any previous exposure to Columbian Sign Language (LSC) at the start of their elementary education. Definitions and denominations are characteristic forms of expression in expository texts that are used in textbooks at schools. Understanding these forms and producing them in the right way helps deaf students according to the research findings to achieve a positive academic career. From his research findings Mr Tovar showed us which linguistic tools a group of adult LSC signers use for denominations and definitions. The audience, including many students, guests and staff of the IDGS, followed the interesting results and by the end there was some time left for a fruitful exchange. Already the evening before the presentation, we met Mr Tovar for dinner, expanding our knowledge of the school project, sign language interpreter training and latest discussions in Columbia.