This workshop is the first to focus on international research on language contact/translanguaging, sociolinguistic variation, and language change in signing communities. It has been inspired by work in the European Research Council SignMorph Project at the University of Birmingham, where we have been comparing sign language structure and use in different signing communities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. 

We know that variation at all levels of linguistic structure (phonology, vocabulary, grammar etc) is an important feature in all signing communities, although in many communities it remains under-described. We know that traditional patterns of variation are also changing partly due to greater deaf mobility, the use of social media, and increasing contact with other sign languages. This workshop will be an opportunity to explore these, and many other, issues related to sociolinguistic variation and change in sign languages. 

The languages of the conference will be British Sign Language (BSL) and International Sign (IS). 

Keynote presenters: Annelies Kusters, Lina Hou, and Marta Morgado

Important Dates 

Abstract submission opens: 15 January 2025

Abstract submission deadline: 31 March 2025

Notification of decisions: 12 May 2025

Registration opens: May 2025

Workshop dates: 21-22 August 2025

Contact us: 

a.schembri@bham.ac.uk

m.morgado@bham.ac.uk