Centre for Deaf Studies, Bristol
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Deaf Studies is a department of the University of Bristol
, England, in the field of deaf studies
, which it defines as the study of the "language, community and culture of Deaf people". Established in 1978, the centre claims to be the first higher educational institute in Europe "to concentrate solely on research and education that aims to benefit the Deaf community". The centre has been at the forefront of establishing the disciplines of deaf studies and Deafhood
. It uses British Sign Language
(BSL), has a policy of bilingual
communication in BSL and English
, and employs a majority of Deaf teaching staff.
As of 2010, the centre offers taught BSc
and MSc
courses, as well as research degrees at MPhil and PhD
level. Bristol University announced plans to close the BSc course in May 2010. The centre also runs Deafstation, a daily news service in BSL.
In 1984, the centre coined the term "deaf studies
", and in 2001, it established the first professorship in the discipline. Also in 2001, it employed a Deaf director, the first time that the head of a European academic centre had been Deaf. In 2003, the book Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, by the centre's researcher Paddy Ladd
, popularised the term "Deafhood
", which Ladd had coined in 1990.
The centre has also been an innovator in education. In 1981, it offered the first university-level certificate course in BSL for professionals. In 1985, it started a diploma course, social science in deaf studies. This was followed in 1987 by a part-time course in sign language interpretation, which became full time in 1990. In 1992, the centre established the earliest full-time, university-level training programme for Deaf people to be taught in sign language. In 1993, a Diploma of Higher Education was established, the earliest undergraduate course on deaf studies in the UK, and in 1999, the first BSc and MSc in deaf studies followed.
and literature of sign language
; acquisition of sign language; community and culture
, known as "Deafhood
"; cognition
and psychology
; and the applications of technology, such as videotelephony
and e-learning
. One ongoing project is an audio-visual phone which, as of 2010, is on trial by the Avon and Somerset Police
.
is one of a handful of universities in the UK to offer an undergraduate degree in deaf studies. The modular BSc
degree can be studied over three years full time or six years part time; students learn BSL
, and the course has a focus on sign linguistics
. In May 2010, the university announced plans to close the undergraduate course as part of a drive to save £15 million.
The centre offers several taught postgraduate courses: a certificate and diploma in deaf studies, and two MSc
courses, in deaf studies and Deafhood studies. There is also an MPhil/PhD
programme.
The centre also offers a range of short courses, including BSL, BSL interpreting and Deafhood studies.
Deafstation, a daily news service in BSL, is run by the centre.
. As of 2010, the majority of teaching staff are Deaf.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, England, in the field of deaf studies
Deaf studies
Deaf Studies are academic disciplines concerned with the study of the deaf social life of human groups and individuals including anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social studies, and sociology...
, which it defines as the study of the "language, community and culture of Deaf people". Established in 1978, the centre claims to be the first higher educational institute in Europe "to concentrate solely on research and education that aims to benefit the Deaf community". The centre has been at the forefront of establishing the disciplines of deaf studies and Deafhood
Deafhood
Deafhood is a term coined by Paddy Ladd in his book "Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood." While the precise meaning of the word remains deliberately vague—Ladd himself calls Deafhood a "process" rather than something finite and clear—it attempts to convey an affirmative and positive...
. It uses British Sign Language
British Sign Language
British Sign Language is the sign language used in the United Kingdom , and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people in the UK; there are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands,...
(BSL), has a policy of bilingual
Multilingualism
Multilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
communication in BSL and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and employs a majority of Deaf teaching staff.
As of 2010, the centre offers taught BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
and MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
courses, as well as research degrees at MPhil and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
level. Bristol University announced plans to close the BSc course in May 2010. The centre also runs Deafstation, a daily news service in BSL.
History
The centre was founded in 1978. Early research at the centre into the acquisition and usage of BSL was the first funded research into the topic in the UK. In 1980, the centre produced the first coding manual for BSL, followed by the first textbook on the language in 1985. In 1980, the centre ran the first National Conference on Sign Language in the UK, and the following year it hosted the first International Conference on Sign Language to be held in the UK. It also organised the first International Deaf Researchers Workshop in 1985.In 1984, the centre coined the term "deaf studies
Deaf studies
Deaf Studies are academic disciplines concerned with the study of the deaf social life of human groups and individuals including anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social studies, and sociology...
", and in 2001, it established the first professorship in the discipline. Also in 2001, it employed a Deaf director, the first time that the head of a European academic centre had been Deaf. In 2003, the book Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, by the centre's researcher Paddy Ladd
Paddy Ladd
Dr. Paddy Ladd is a scholar, author, activist and researcher of Deaf culture . He is currently a lecturer and MSC Coordinator at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol . He held the Powrie V. Doctor Chair in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, Washington DC . He completed his Ph.D...
, popularised the term "Deafhood
Deafhood
Deafhood is a term coined by Paddy Ladd in his book "Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood." While the precise meaning of the word remains deliberately vague—Ladd himself calls Deafhood a "process" rather than something finite and clear—it attempts to convey an affirmative and positive...
", which Ladd had coined in 1990.
The centre has also been an innovator in education. In 1981, it offered the first university-level certificate course in BSL for professionals. In 1985, it started a diploma course, social science in deaf studies. This was followed in 1987 by a part-time course in sign language interpretation, which became full time in 1990. In 1992, the centre established the earliest full-time, university-level training programme for Deaf people to be taught in sign language. In 1993, a Diploma of Higher Education was established, the earliest undergraduate course on deaf studies in the UK, and in 1999, the first BSc and MSc in deaf studies followed.
Research
Research at the centre falls mainly into five areas: the language, linguisticsLinguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
and literature of sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
; acquisition of sign language; community and culture
Deaf culture
Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication. When used as a cultural label, the word deaf is often written with a...
, known as "Deafhood
Deafhood
Deafhood is a term coined by Paddy Ladd in his book "Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood." While the precise meaning of the word remains deliberately vague—Ladd himself calls Deafhood a "process" rather than something finite and clear—it attempts to convey an affirmative and positive...
"; cognition
Cognition
In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions. Cognition is studied in various disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
; and the applications of technology, such as videotelephony
Videophone
A videophone is a telephone with a video screen, and is capable of full duplex video and audio transmissions for communication between people in real-time...
and e-learning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
. One ongoing project is an audio-visual phone which, as of 2010, is on trial by the Avon and Somerset Police
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the territorial police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, the city & county of Bristol and the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; before 1996 these districts...
.
Courses and services
As of 2010, BristolUniversity of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
is one of a handful of universities in the UK to offer an undergraduate degree in deaf studies. The modular BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
degree can be studied over three years full time or six years part time; students learn BSL
British Sign Language
British Sign Language is the sign language used in the United Kingdom , and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people in the UK; there are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands,...
, and the course has a focus on sign linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
. In May 2010, the university announced plans to close the undergraduate course as part of a drive to save £15 million.
The centre offers several taught postgraduate courses: a certificate and diploma in deaf studies, and two MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
courses, in deaf studies and Deafhood studies. There is also an MPhil/PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
programme.
The centre also offers a range of short courses, including BSL, BSL interpreting and Deafhood studies.
Deafstation, a daily news service in BSL, is run by the centre.
Staff
As of 2010, the centre's director is Lorna Allsop. The Harry Crook Professor in Deaf Studies is Jim Kyle, and other researchers include Paddy LaddPaddy Ladd
Dr. Paddy Ladd is a scholar, author, activist and researcher of Deaf culture . He is currently a lecturer and MSC Coordinator at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol . He held the Powrie V. Doctor Chair in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, Washington DC . He completed his Ph.D...
. As of 2010, the majority of teaching staff are Deaf.