aaus-list @ ukrainianstudies.org -- [aaus-list] U of A leads study of Ukrainian Sign Language

[Natalia Pylypiuk <natalia.pylypiuk@ualberta.ca>]

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

With your indulgence, I am sharing an article that might be of
interest to those studying languages in general, and Sign Language
  in particular.

Regards, Natalia Pylypiuk

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University leads study of Ukrainian Sign Language
by Caitlin Crawshaw

May 8, 2007 - Edmonton - Under the rule of the former Soviet Union,
the education system in Ukraine wasn't allowed to teach sign language
to the deaf. An international agreement signed at the University of
Alberta today is helping teachers and deaf students in Ukraine to
teach and learn signing.



Led by education professor Dr. Debra Russell the Ukrainian Sign
Language Project will document Ukrainian Sign Language. It is the
first project of its type in the world.

"It's never been researched before," said Russell, who holds the
David Peikoff Chair of Deafness Studies at the U of A. "Since sign
language was not allowed to be used in the country, there was no
formal study of Ukrainian Sign Language. It's really the first
linguistic, descriptive study."

"Under Soviet times, the educational method was entirely oral. So,
while deaf people have used sign language for centuries, it wasn't
allowed to be used in school systems and it wasn't a formal area of
study," she added. "And now, as with most signed languages, it's
capturing the most interest. Sign language research is one of the
growing fields across most countries, and Ukraine is no different in
that way."

The data collected by the project will help Ukrainian educators
instruct students in Ukrainian Sign Language and develop teaching
curriculum, said Russell. It will also help researchers better
understand American Sign Language, she added.

Dr. Judy Lupart, a U of A educational psychology professor who holds
the Canada Research Chair in Special Education, said the agreement
expands the range of collaboration between Drahomanov National
Pedagogical University and the U of A.

Viktor Andrushchenko, rector of Drahomanov National Pedagogical
University, noted that the agreement builds upon previous
collaboration. He's particularly pleased with the agreement's
specific focus.

"Another of these important areas is education of children with
special needs, and the training of a new generation of teacher
susceptible to new, technical innovations, and able to adapt to the
new realities of life," he said.

According to U of A Dean of Education Dr. Fern Snart, the MOU
"reflects beautifully the faculty's goals for international
initiatives within our academic plan."

"It's well understood, but I think it bears repeating, that when we
collaborate in this fashion, it enriches both sides of the
collaboration," she said.

"I also know that when talented, enthusiastic people work together,
there are wonderful surprises in terms of achievements that have not
yet been planned or dreamed. And I hope some of those surprises will
begin to happen as early as today."

Dr. George Richardson, the Faculty of Education associate dean
(international initiatives), said the agreement is a great place "to
begin looking at the range of future opportunities."

"We look forward to a long and very profitable collaboration."

- - - - - - -
Links:

Ukrainian Sign Language Project:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/edpsychology/nav03.cfm?
nav03=51849&nav02=16904&nav01=13956

Dr. Debra Russell:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/edpsychology/nav03.cfm?
nav03=19786&nav02=14211&nav01=13954

Dr. Judy Lupart:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/edpsychology/nav03.cfm?
nav03=15507&nav02=14211&nav01=13954

The original online article can be found at:
http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=8422