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Arabic sign language: a perspective.

M A Abdel-Fattah¹

¹Department of Languages and Translation, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit University, West Bank. mfatah@birzeit.edu

Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education

|March 22, 2005

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Sign language in the Arab World is diverse, with distinct national variations despite a shared alphabet. This study explores the evolution and linguistic features of Arabic sign languages, highlighting key differences.

Area of Science:

Linguistics
Sociolinguistics
Deaf Studies

Background:

Sign language in the Arab World is gaining recognition and documentation.
Efforts to standardize national sign languages (e.g., Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Gulf States) have resulted in numerous distinct sign languages.
Despite national variations, a common set of sign alphabets exists across Arabic sign languages.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a tentative account of the evolution of Arabic sign languages.
To investigate the influence of Arabic diglossia on sign language development.
To compare linguistic features of various Arabic sign languages.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of selected Arabic sign languages (Jordanian, Palestinian, Egyptian, Kuwaiti, Libyan).

Related Experiment Videos

Examination of linguistic features including primes, configuration, and movement.

Discussion of potential evolutionary pathways influenced by sociolinguistic factors.

Main Results:

Arabic sign languages exhibit significant diversity despite a unified sign alphabet.
Linguistic features such as primes, configuration, and movement vary across different national sign languages.
The diglossic nature of spoken Arabic appears to influence sign language evolution.

Conclusions:

Arabic sign languages are distinct entities shaped by national and linguistic factors.
Understanding these differences is crucial for effective communication and standardization efforts within the Deaf community.
Further research is needed to fully document and analyze the rich landscape of Arabic sign languages.