National
Institute of Deaf Studies
and Sign Language
About NIDS
The National Institute of Deaf Studies and Sign Language
(NIDS) was established in 1993 to provide a national focus for research
into the Australian Deaf community, its language Auslan (Australian Sign
language), its culture and the education of deaf students. It houses the
Australian Sign Language Research Facility, funded by the federal government,
which includes a professional production unit for making videos and a
unique specialist library.
The Institute is involved in the coordination of a wide
range of teaching and research projects and works closely with the deaf
community. The library holds a special collection of material on sign
language and deaf studies in addition to a unique laboratory for computer
analysis of video-based sign language materials. The Institute thus offers
outstanding facilities for postgraduate research for both deaf and hearing
students.
La Trobe's strengths in deaf studies, sign language research
and teacher training are recognised nationally and internationally. As
the only facility of its type in Australia, the Institute hosts many overseas
visitors and runs a wide variety of workshops with academics from Europe,
America and the United Kingdom. The staff of the Institute are involved
in a wide range of research projects which vary from highly theoretical
projects to those involved with the practical implications of research
for the deaf community. The majority of the current staff are native users
of sign language. Staff and postgraduate students work closely together.
The Institute offers a friendly and stimulating environment
and not only welcomes students who have a knowledge of sign language and
the deaf community, but also welcomes those who wish to learn the language
and become involved in the area.
Top
Principal areas of specialisation
Sign language linguistics, sociolinguistics of sign languages,
comparative studies of sign languages in Asia and the Pacific, and the
West, phonological and syntactic properties of fingerspelling, language
change, deaf culture and community and deaf history.
International Links
The National Institute of Deaf Studies maintains strong
links with other universities and deaf organisations throughout the world
involved in sign language research and teaching. The Institute welcomes
international students to study at La Trobe University.
Consultancy
Staff from the Institute are available for consultancy
of research work in the areas of language use, language teaching and language
development, classroom evaluation and testing, curriculum development,
and working with deaf people in industry.
Top
Auslan
The term Auslan is an acronym of Australian Sign Language.
Although this is a relatively new name, it is not a new language. Auslan
has its roots in British Sign Language. This language was brought to Australia
in the early years of Australian settlement and since that time Australian
deaf people have developed it as a distinct Australian language.
No study to date has been able to gauge accurately the
number of deaf people who use Auslan, but estimates suggest that the figure
is around 30,000.
Auslan is a visual/spatial language that uses the hands,
arms, body and face to communicate. It is a language that requires face-to-face
interaction between signers. The grammatical system of Auslan is one that
is strongly linked to the use of space, a grammatical system that is completely
independent of English.
Sign languages are true linguistic systems. They are
neither gesture nor pantomime but fully grammatical systems that are rule
governed and systematic. Sign languages are not overwhelmingly iconic.
Iconicity relates to that aspect of signs that renders them transparent.
If you have ever come across deaf people signing you will no doubt have
realised that they are incomprehensible to the uninitiated.
Auslan uses a two-handed fingerspelling system which
is unique to Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. Other signing linguistic
communities use one-handed fingerspelling.
Top
Contact Details
For general enquiries
Tel: +61 3 9479 2283
Fax: +61 3 9479 3074
Email: v.barcelo@latrobe.edu.au
Postal Address
National Institute of Deaf Studies and Sign Language
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086
AUSTRALIA
Location
Level 4, Education Bldg 1
La Trobe University
BUNDOORA CAMPUS
Top
|
