Sign Language Acquisition and Use by Single-Generation Deaf Adults in Australia Who Attended Specific Educational Settings for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Abstract

This article examines the acquisition and use of Australian Sign Language (Auslan) by 53 profoundly deaf adults (31 male, 22 female) who attended educational units for deaf and hard of hearing children. The results indicate that, regardless of age, the acquisition of sign language, particularly Auslan, by deaf people occurred primarily through association with other deaf individuals. Participants reported that little (if any) specific teaching of sign language occurred in these special schools. This had had an impact on the quality of their signing and possibly the extent of their signing lexicon since they would have used home signs and school signs. This study concludes that schools must provide comprehensive instruction in sign language and that it must be taught by qualified teachers who are fluent in Auslan.