In the Public Eye
Media Narratives of Deaf Identities and Sign Language(s) in Singapore
This project is supported by the National Library Digital Fellowship, National Library Board, Singapore, and draws on NewspaperSG, their online newspaper archives as well as LexisNexis and Factiva via the NTU Library database.
Preserving Our Narrative
We advocate for the formal recognition of Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) as a pillar of cultural identity and empowerment. The hub serves as a central platform for research, aiming to promote language access and dismantle the barriers that historically silence deaf lived perspectives in the public eye.
Archival Research 1940s-2020s
Multimedia Resources
SgSL Visual Grammar
A detailed video resource explaining the visual linguistic structures and grammar of Singapore Sign Language.
PhD Research Highlights
Accessible multimedia summaries of thesis research examining media narratives and linguistic empowerment in Singapore.
Empowerment Narratives
A collection of multimedia stories from community members regarding language access and the resilience of Deaf identities.
Key Terms Glossary
SOCIAL CONCEPTS
Audism
The notion that one is superior based on one's ability to hear or to behave in the manner of one who hears, leading to systemic marginalization of Deaf individuals.
COMMUNITY DYNAMICS
Horizontal Violence
Hostility directed by members of a marginalized community toward one another, often as a result of internalized oppression and systemic frustration.
Language Policing
Language Policing
The practice of controlling language varieties, often undermining Singapore Sign Language by enforcing restrictive linguistic standards.
NATIONAL IDENTITY
SgSL
Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) is the primary sign language of the Deaf community in Singapore, reflecting its unique linguistic and cultural heritage.