Sign language research in Ghana: An overview of indigenous and foreign-based sign languages

Abstract

The recognition of sign language as a full-fledged human language with linguistics description has led to several research works in both theoretical and applied linguistics considering different aspects. The present study extends this research to the Ghanaian context, with the aim of providing an overview of past and current research on indigenous and foreign-based sign languages in Ghana. We considered published and unpublished works from Ghanaian and foreign researchers and synthesized these to know the areas that have been covered. We specifically explored research on indigenous sign languages in Ghana; the contributions of Dr Andrew Foster in sign language literacy; research on foreign-based sign languages in Ghana; language contact, language vitality, language documentation and other sociological issues. We discussed our findings with respect to the descriptive analysis of sign languages in Ghana: vitality and vulnerability of different sign languages in Ghana. Relevant to our paper is the vulnerability and the possible endangerment of indigenous sign languages in Ghana. We argue that indigenous sign languages in Ghana risk endangerment, whereas foreignbased sign languages have potential for development. We suggest the involvement of local linguists in documentation, research, and the analysis of SLs in Ghana to ensure the survival of indigenous SLs and increased research on SLs in Ghana.
KEY WORDS: sign language, Ghana, indigenous, foreign-based, overview