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New Publication: Cultural Stigmatization and Linguistic Prejudice in Deaf Education in Ghana

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I’m delighted to share that my latest co-authored chapter with Dr. George Akanlig-Pare has been published by Oxford University Press in The Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice, edited by Jane Setter and colleagues. Chapter Title: Cultural Stigmatization and Linguistic Prejudice in Deaf Education in Ghana Read the chapter here Understanding the Context Across the world, Deaf communities have long faced linguistic prejudice and cultural marginalization, often driven by misunderstanding and neglect of sign languages. In Ghana, this challenge is compounded by educational policies that fail to recognize sign language as a legitimate medium of instruction. Our chapter situates this issue within a historical and sociolinguistic framework, showing how colonial education systems, societal perceptions of deafness, and policy gaps have shaped the experience of Deaf learners in Ghana. We trace this trajectory from the early missionary schools founded by Andrew Foster in the 1950s, through ye...
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What happens to Indigenous African Sign Languages? Celebrating International Mother Language Day

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  February 21st marks International Mother Language Day , a day dedicated to celebrating linguistic diversity and promoting multilingual education. Proclaimed by UNESCO and later adopted by the UN General Assembly, this day highlights the crucial role languages play in promoting inclusion and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Multilingual education not only promotes inclusive societies but also helps preserve non-dominant, minority, and indigenous languages. This is essential for ensuring equitable access to education and lifelong learning opportunities for all individuals. In this brief paper, I aim to explore indigenous African sign languages, drawing upon the research I have conducted in this field. Indigenous African Sign Languages In the context of International Mother Language Day, it is vital to recognize the significance of indigenous African sign languages. These languages, often overshadowed by more dominant sign languages like American Sign Language (AS...
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Sign language research in Ghana: An overview of indigenous and foreign-based sign languages (Author’s reflection)

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In early 2021, I had the privilege of co-authoring a journal paper with Prof. George Akanlig-Pare, titled “ Sign Language Research in Ghana: An Overview of Indigenous and Foreign-Based Sign Languages. " The paper was published in the Journal of African Languages and Literatures. Prof. Akanlig-Pare, whom I affectionately call "Uncle George," has played a pivotal role in my journey as a sign linguist. It was during my undergraduate studies at the University of Ghana that he sparked my passion for sign language linguistics. With deep conviction and enthusiasm, Uncle George has consistently advocated for sign language research and the Ghanaian Deaf community. He often voiced concerns over the inadequate approach to Deaf education in Ghana and the limited number of researchers focusing on sign languages in the country. Collaborating with him to review sign language research in Ghana was not only a pleasure but also a meaningful step towards addressing these challenges. The ac...
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University Application Deadlines

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Study Abroad: Know the deadlines Don't miss the dates Watch the video below and be aware of the dates for your university application.  Turn on the subtitle section if you need that option.  See below for further information. Study in UK Important UCAS Deadlines. All UCAS deadlines for courses in the UK  for students wishing to study in the UK from September of the current year is 15 January at 18:00 (UK time) for the majority of courses. This applies to Bachelors and Master Degree programmes. For PhD, there are specific institutional requirements. Check the website of the University you hope to apply to.  Norway The national application deadlines for most schools in Norway is 1st December. Application portals are opened in October. Other institutions in Europe Different deadlines apply to different institutions. Check institutional pages. Canada Check individual university's website. The application portals for most schools are opened all year round for Fall, Winter...
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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  Explaining the morphophonology of sign language: Understanding the linguistics of sign language (Part 4)   In my last blog post, we looked at the morphology of sign language and considered certain morphological processes that takes place within signs. In case you missed that post, you can check it up via the link below: https://medgronah.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-signs-are-meaningful-understanding.html There are other morphological processes in sign language which were not discussed in the last blog post. Some of these morphological processes are best described under the term morphophonology because of the interaction between the morphology and phonological parameters. To read more about the phonology of the sign, check my blog post on phonology via the link below: https://medgronah.blogspot.com/2020/09/on-face-and-body-internal-structure-of.html MORPHOPHONOLOGY deals with the study of the interaction of word formation with the sound system of a language. In sign l...
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Location: Brighton, UK
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  The signs are meaningful: Understanding the linguistics of sign language (Part 3) I have encountered people who have asked me questions such as “How do you understand the different gestures in sign language?” This question does not come as a surprise to me. I would have asked the same if I were in their “shoes”. In this blogpost, we shall consider the morphology of sign language. Sign languages operate in the visual-gestural modality and the movement of the hands produces meaningful structures. In other words, when the phonological parameters of the signs are altered, the meaning is altered as well. To read more on the phonology of signs, check out my blog post https://medgronah.blogspot.com/2020/09/on-face-and-body-internal-structure-of.html   Morphology is the study of the smallest meaningful units in language and of how  those meaningful units are used to build new words or signs (1). That is, morphology considers how words are formed, and how languages combin...
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Location: Brighton, UK
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  African sign languages are not American product: Indigenous African Deaf People and indigenous African Sign Languages As an African sign linguist, I have been bombarded with comments such as, “ Oh if you sign research on sign languages in Ghana, then you must know ASL ”; “ I guess all Deaf people in Africa know ASL because of Andrew Forster ” etc. These comments come from people who genuinely have not taken time to study the dynamics of African sign languages. I must comment that American Sign Language (ASL) has strongly influenced sign languages on the African continent and most urban sign languages used in Africa (with connections to ASL) are believed to be mutually intelligible (of some sort) to ASL. In other words, there are lexical and grammatical similarities in some of these urban sign languages (which I term foreign-based African sign languages).   This post is intended to highlight the indigenous African Deaf people and their sign languages. For more information ...
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Location: Brighton, UK
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