CULTURE AND DEAFNESS

Culture and Deafness is part of the Master's Degree in Language Sciences. It is held in the first part of the academic year.
The course aims to provide students with useful skills to explain the consequences of deafness related to the language and culture of the majority. The final aim is to develop an awareness to direct the inclusion of people with linguistic disability and to understand how to interpret various linguistic and cultural phenomena connected to deafness.

The outcome of the course is that the students will have an understanding of:
the phenomena of written language as a technology that determined a different approach to culture;
the difficulties of deaf people regarding language acquisition, the linguistic competence of Italian Sign Language and the linguistic competence of a foreign oral language;
the problems of deaf people in their line of work;
the consequences of hearing loss from a social, linguistic and cognitive point of view;
sign language historical background and people's vision towards deafness over the centuries;
the peculiarities of languages that have no written form as Italian Sign Language;
the possible use of Italian Sign Language in communicative disabilities;
the meaning of linguistic accessibility and text legibility.
The meaning of poetic production in sign language and the basis of poetic analysis in sign language

As regards applying knowledge and understanding, students will also have acquired skills necessary to:
to use the linguistic terminology correctly;
recognize and describe the characteristics of languages that have no written form and identify some of them in sign languages;
identify the contexts in which the use of Sign Language is considered to be appropriate to resolve problems inherent in communicative disabilities, through participation in internships and job training programmes (in schools, special needs institutions, care homes for the elderly, etc.), and subsequently report back on their experiences;
integrate the knowledge provided during the course with further research connected to issues relating to language, culture, education and the application of LIS in different areas;
identify the inaccessible linguistic elements in a text in case of linguistic disability.


The student can obtain research materials autonomously, formulate hypotheses, and express their opinions on specific themes included in the course. Moreover, they will be able to consult the literature present in the texts and articles and search for new sources, identify research lines, apply the method of critical thinking, and produce a text on their academic and/or practical experience on a specific theme.

Knowledge of Italian Sign Language to a B2+ is required

The contents may be subject to changes once the professor will be assigned.

The lessons will be conducted in the form of seminars for each topic:

- Definition of "Culture" and "Cultures"
- Oral language and written language: correlation with cultural elements.
- Language and thought. People without words are without thought?
- From gestures to the signs
- Acquisition of language in case of deafness.
- The comprehension of the Italian language and written non-standard production, Together with evaluation problems.
- Linguistic and communicative accessibility in school, work and everyday life.
- Studying and teaching foreign languages to deaf people
- Use of LIS for other disabilities
- Traditional Italian cultural production and deafness (songs, fairytales, books…)
- Music and deaf people
- Foundations of poetic analysis in sign language

A list of the topics of each lesson with respective bibliographies will be provided.

References may be subject to changes once the professor will be assigned.

In-depth bibliographic material will be provided during the lessons about the topics covered. Websites will be also recommended.

Bertone C. (2023), La poetica del silenzio. Approccio alla poesia in lingua dei segni, Franco Angeli.
Bertone C. (a cura di) 2013, Pinocchio in LIS. Edizioni Cafoscarina (VE)
Cardinaletti A. (a cura di) 2018, Test linguistici accessibili per studenti sordi e con DSA. Pari opportunità per l’accesso all’Università., FrancoAngeli.
Cardinaletti A. Branchini C. (a cura di) 2016, La lingua dei segni nelle disabilità comunicative, FrancoAngeli.
Cavalieri R. Chiricò D. (2005), Parlare, segnare. Introduzione alla fisiologia e alla patologia delle lingue verbali e dei segni, Il Mulino.
Chesi C. 2006, Il linguaggio verbale non standard dei bambini sordi, Roma E.U.R.
Diderot D. 1968, Lettera sui sordomuti e altri scritti sulla natura e sul bello, Guanda ed, Franzini (a cura di).
Fabbretti D. Tommasuolo E. 2006, Scrittura e Sordità, Carocci.
Halliday M. 1985, Lingua parlata e lingua scritta, La Feltrinelli.
Ladd P., 2003, Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Ong W. J. 1977, Oralità e Scrittura, Il Mulino.
Orletti F. (ed.) (2021): Comunicare il patrimonio culturale. Accessibilità comunicativa, tecnologie e sostenibilità. Milano: Franco Angeli
Radutzky E. 2001, Dizionario bilingue elementare della Lingua Italiana dei Segni, Ed. Kappa.
Raniolo, E. 2023, Sul senso, sui sensi. Tradurre la poesia in lingue dei segni. Agorà e Co, Lugano.
Russo Cardona T. Volterra V. 2007, Le lingue dei segni. Storia e semiotica, Carocci, Roma.
Sacks O. 2009, Vedere Voci, Adelphi.
Shaller S. 1991, A man without words, New York : Summit Books.
Trovato S. 2014, Insegno in segni, Raffaello Cortina Ed.
Volterra V. 2007, Le lingue dei segni, Carocci ed.


Notes of the lessons and other material suggested by the teacher during the lectures.

The final examination consists of a presentation in Italian Sign Language (LIS) of a monographic study aimed at assessing the student’s interpretative competence with regard to linguistic and cultural phenomena related to deafness.
The following skills will be evaluated: source research, methodology, creativity, presentation, and critical reflection.

The topic, chosen by the student, must be inspired by one of the subjects addressed during the course and communicated to the instructor either during the course or, at the latest, at its conclusion. At least ten days prior to the examination, the student must submit to the instructor an abstract of no more than 2,000 characters outlining the content of the study.

The presentation should not exceed 20 minutes. During the examination, students may also be asked to provide reflections and evaluations on the other topics covered in the course.

oral

The assessment of the grading system will be confirmed once the course will be assigned to the new professor.


The final evaluation will be determined by the cumulative score obtained according to the following criteria:

1. Relevance, coherence, and accuracy of the topic addressed (up to 6 points).
2. Ability to synthesize and organize content (up to 4 points).
3. Formal accuracy of the presentation (up to 6 points).
4. Clarity and precision of expression, including terminological command and confidence in oral presentation (up to 5 points)
5. Breadth and relevance of the bibliography (up to 3 points)
6. Ability to elaborate independently and to respond effectively to questions (up to 6 points)
The maximum achievable score is 30/30. The awarding of honors (laude) is conditional upon achieving a high level of quality in every part of the exam, demonstrating full mastery of the subject matter and excellent communication skills.

Lectures and linguistic practices are directed to individuals and groups.
Videos and film excerpts will be offered.

The course is taught in Italian Sign Language
Alternative programs can be agreed.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development