I’ll let you in on a little secret. There have been times when I need some illustrations of Auslan signs and I’ll go to New Zealand Sign Language Online Dictionary to see if I can get the picture I need. *NOTE: I’d only advise you to do this if you are already very familiar with Auslan signs.* …
Noticeable Difference between NZSL and Auslan Resources Read More »
You may notice that there’s an almost fierce protectiveness over our language by some of our Deaf community members. There are a few very valid reasons for this. Historically, the Deaf community has had to fight not only for recognition of and ‘permission’ to use our language, but also fight to even be seen as …
Auslan & Appropriation – Why We are so Protective Of Our Language Read More »
Many minority groups have terms that are preferred and some to be avoided (consider Aboriginal/Indigenous communities and members of LGBTQI+ community pronoun usage). Naturally, the Deaf community – a linguistic minority group – has its own preferences. Before we discuss terminology, remember to always ask the person with whom you are interacting what THEIR preferred terms are. …
(Note: While the term can be interchangeable – sign name or name sign, for the purpose of this blog, I will be using sign name). If you are familiar with Auslan and its Deaf community, you will know about or have heard about sign names. Sign names have a rich cultural heritage in Deaf communities all …
