Description
Czech and Norwegian experts in sign language linguistics and deaf studies, both hearing and deaf, will join to create a think tank based on two different cultural frameworks and will share their experience and know-how in studying, analyzing, describing and teaching Czech and Norwegian sign languages as communication tools used in higher education and professional career. They will compare the existing lexicographic tools and grammar descriptions of Czech and Norwegian sign languages, elicitation of common signs and developping terminology needed for scientific purposes, will assess the role of International Sign system for European communication and mobility of the deaf, and publish descriptions of basic vocabulary recommended for International Sign system. Training programmes for sign language interpreters and traslators will be thoroughly discussed, compared to other existing ones, and good practice transferred into the Czech curriculum.
Summary of project results
Czech and Norwegian experts in sign language linguistics and deaf studies, both hearing and deaf, created together a think tank based on two different cultural frameworks in order to share their experience and know-how in studying, analyzing, describing and teaching Czech and Norwegian sign languages as communication tools used in higher education and professional career. They compared the existing lexicographic tools and grammar descriptions of Czech and Norwegian sign languages, analysed the elicitation of common signs and development of terminology needed for scientific purposes. The role of the International Sign system for European communication and mobility of the deaf was assessed, and a set of basic vocabulary descriptions recommended for the International Sign system was published online. Training programmes for sign language interpreters and translators were thoroughly discussed, compared to other existing ones, and good practice was used to develop the Masaryk University planned curriculum. The outcomes and outputs have been reached mainly on the basis of sharing experience and ideas and analysing and comparing the Czech and Norwegian systems of deaf.
Summary of bilateral results
On both the Norwegian and Czech sides the primary target group was represented by teachers, researchers and academic staff involved in training programs of sign languages and/or deaf studies in general. University students who are sign languages users, and university students learning sign language for their professional career (interpreters, translators) or from general interest constituted a secondary target group, while high school students with the same concerns/interests represented the third one. All the mentioned groups can benefit from the didactic tools (sign language dictionary) and practical teaching guidelines (training program for interpreters) and materials developed thanks to the project. The outputs of the project are published and publicly available to on the website of the project together with the feedback of the project from the researchers and academic staff directly involved in the project.