New on the Bookshelf
Effects of language backgrounds on current languaging: Varied practices, competencies and needs of deaf migrant signers in Austria
Author:
Year of Publication: 2026
Journal: Deafness & Education International
Publisher: Routledge
About the article
Recent increases in deaf migration to Austria have highlighted the need for a deeper understanding of the social and linguistic realities of deaf migrant signers. Using video data, this study examines the use of non-ÖGS (Austrian Sign Language) resources and performance on two competence scales and analyses how these practices and competencies relate to participants’ linguistic backgrounds. The findings reveal the impact of the overall amount and nature of signed input throughout life, emphasising the importance of individualised intervention measures. This underscores the need for linguistically and culturally sensitive training for professionals working with deaf migrants, ensuring they can address the varying needs of this population. Challenging traditional notions of proficiency, the study calls for a more nuanced approach to understanding and supporting the language development of deaf migrant signers.
A Magyarországon beszélt romani nyelv egyik legkorábbi írásos emléke egy angol utazó könyvében
Authors: Márton A. Baló and Zuzana Bodnárová
Year of Publication: 2025
Journal: Gypsy Studies – Roma Studien – Cigány Tanulmányok
Publisher: Universität Pécs
About the article
This study examines the Romani data collected by Richard Bright in 1815 in Csurgó (Somogy County) and published in 1818, comparing it with present-day South Central Romani varieties and other contemporary sources. Despite its limited scope and inaccuracies, the material clearly reflects a South Central Romani variety, likely spoken by some of the earliest settled Roma groups in Transdanubia. The source thus represents one of the earliest records of this variety and offers a rare glimpse into a now-extinct Romani dialect of Transdanubia.
Gebärdensprachen in Bewegung: Was uns migrierte taube Signer*innen über grenzüberschreitende Kommunikation lehren.
Author:
Year of Publication: 2025
Journal: Das Zeichen
Publisher: Gesellschaft für Gebärdensprache und Kommunikation Gehörloser e.V.
About the article
Rising migration to Austria is leading to an increasingly complex linguistic situation, which also involves deaf individuals who are newly engaging with the local deaf community. Often, these deaf migrants have rich and varied language backgrounds, but they face unique challenges in their new home – especially since they may not know the local sign language(s) or the spoken/written languages used in Austria.
Drawing on a 2024 research project from the University of Graz, this article explores the diverse linguistic realities of deaf migrants. It highlights their wide-ranging language skills and examines how their communication strategies differ from those of monolingual or non-migrant Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) users. The discussion also considers whether these practices reflect a broader, more holistic language competence – one that extends beyond the boundaries of individual languages like ÖGS.