Conference
Symposium: Through the Hands of Signers: History of sign language emergence, transmission, and change
- Date
- Friday 10 July 2026
- Time
- Address
- TBA
The Vici project Through the Hands of Signers invites everyone to participate in its kick-off symposium on the History of Sign Language Emergence, Transmission, and Change on July 10 2026.
The symposium will bring together researchers, students, and international professionals with the aim of promoting the exchange of research and experiences, as well as reflecting on sign languages from a broad historical perspective, encompassing their early records, sociolinguistic development, and contemporary uses. Discussions will address the spread and transmission of sign languages across different social, educational, religious, and sporting contexts, as well as the influence of geopolitical dynamics, institutional policies, archival sources, and technologies on their circulation, preservation, and ongoing development.
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Watch the video on the original website orCall for abstracts
We invite on-stage and poster presentations. Presentations are in-person only, unless under exceptional circumstances including visa issues. Online streaming will be provided. More information about the submission process can be found on this website soon.
- Languages of abstract & presentation: International Sign & English (if possible, NGT interpretation will be offered during conference).
- Deadline submission abstracts: March 2, 2026
We invite abstracts on the following topics:
1) History, politics, and global dynamics
- Geopolitical dynamics and their influence on sign language histories
- The Milan Congress and the transmission of sign languages: myths and reality
2) Education and linguistics
- Deaf school archives
- Old sign language and modern sign languages: what are the linguistic differences?
- Emergence of sign languages
- Spread of sign languages across the globe: background and perspectives
- Sociolinguistic factors shaping the histories of sign languages, including the impact of sign language recognition on their development
- The relevance of preserving deaf histories and sign languages
3) Religion, sport and technology in deaf communitie
- The contributions of deaf religious groups to the deaf community
- The role of deaf sport associations in the transmission of sign languages
- The role of technology in sign language spread, transmission and use
Registration
More information will follow soon.
- Costs: no costs
Contact
For more information or questions, contact Glaucia Rodrigues Vermue, g.rodrigues.vermue@hum.leidenuniv.nl.