Jani De Lange: Onomastics and Sign Language - An Unexplored Terrain

The lecture series Onomastics Online continued on 12 December 2024 with a lecture presented by Jani de Lange (University of the Free State, South Africa) with the title "Onomastics and Sign Language - An Unexplored Terrain". Keywords: #onomastics #signlanguage #southafricansignlanguage #deafcommunity #culturalpractices Abstract: Onomastics offers valuable insights into the linguistic, cultural, and historical dimensions of naming practices across various societies. While onomastics has traditionally focused on spoken languages, its application to sign language reveals a unique and unexplored terrain. This presentation explores the intersection of onomastics and sign language, examining how proper names are conceptualized and used within Deaf communities. Sign languages, as visual-spatial languages, utilize a distinct system of name signs that are shaped by Deaf social norms and visual language structures. These name signs reflect the shared identity and cultural values of the Deaf community. While current onomastic studies in sign language primarily concentrate on signed place names and personal names, this presentation will expand the scope to encompass other name categories. The International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) identifies 32 types of names, including brand names, by-names, and theonyms, each with potential relevance to sign language analysis. By examining the diversity of name types within sign language, this presentation aims to introduce signed names from an onomastic approach to deepen our understanding of Deaf naming practices, cultural identity, and the interplay between language, culture, and society. Connect with the speaker:   / jani-de-lange-46579551  . Onomastics Online is a series of online lectures dealing with important timely topics related to names and naming. Presented by distinguished scholars from various academic backgrounds, the lectures demonstrate the importance and the multidisciplinary nature of onomastic research. To see the list of upcoming and past lectures, please visit our webpage at: https://icosweb.net/onomastics-online/. Previous lectures can be found on our YouTube channel:    / @theinternationalcouncilofo2460  . If you are interested in ICOS membership, please see the details here: https://icosweb.net/membership/member.... For updates and scholarly engagement, connect with us on any of our platforms: YOUTUBE    / @theinternationalcouncilofo2460   LINKEDIN   / 4081415   FACEBOOK   / icosweb   X https://x.com/ICOSnews