| Unit name | The Language Experience of Deaf Children |
|---|---|
| Unit code | DEAF20032 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Ms. Smith |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Applied Community and Health Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The language experience of deaf children is &+typically atypical &*. This unit considers the acquisition of sign language by children, focussing on the parallels with and differences from acquisition of spoken language by hearing children. Children &)s acquisition of sign vocabulary and grammar (including the use of space and movement) will be discussed, as well as the caretaker language of deaf adults. The unit also considers the bilingual experience of deaf children at home and at school. While focussing on the deaf child &)s experience, it also compares and contrasts this with the experience of hearing children growing in a bilingual environment. Students will carry out a detailed examination of language development as it has been shown to occur in bilingual situations. Particular attention will be paid to minority-majority bilingualism and to situations where home and school languages bear this relation. Sign language methods as they have been applied to parents, pre-school and school situations will be discussed in some detail. Implications for policy-makers and practitioners will be set out.
