Sign Languages and Linguistic Citizenship: A Critical Ethnographic Study of the Yangon Deaf Community

This book provides a critical ethnographic account of the Yangon deaf community in Myanmar, shedding light on language policies and their impact on a vibrant linguistic and cultural minority community. It emphasizes the need for a critical and interdisciplinary approach to the study of language policy, unpacking the interplay between language ideologies, power relations, political and moral interests, and community conceptualizations of citizenship. The findings contribute to ongoing debates on linguistic authenticity and the relationship between language policy and social justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This in-depth ethnographic exploration of the Yangon deaf community in Myanmar provides invaluable insights into the intricate dynamics of a vibrant linguistic and cultural minority group within the region. Moreover, it sheds light on broader issues surrounding language policy, offering a comprehensive examination of language policies at various scales. The book delves into the impact of unofficial policies within the local deaf school and the broader Yangon deaf community on responses to higher-level interventions, such as the 2007 government policy aimed at unifying the country's two sign languages. Foote emphasizes the importance of a critical and interdisciplinary approach to the study of language policy, unraveling the complex interplay between language ideologies, power dynamics, political and moral interests, and community understandings of citizenship. The study's findings are situated within broader theoretical debates within linguistic anthropology, challenging existing paradigms on the notion of linguistic authenticity and contributing to ongoing discussions on the relationship between language policy and social justice.

This book makes a significant contribution to critical work on language policy, particularly appealing to students and scholars in the fields of sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, and language education. By offering a nuanced and comprehensive analysis of the Yangon deaf community, it provides valuable insights into the complexities of language preservation, identity formation, and the broader social implications of language policies. The book's interdisciplinary approach and rich empirical data make it a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of language and culture in diverse contexts.

Weight: 330g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367680046