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Language Contact and the History of Sign Language in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract:The emergence of a national sign language in Trinidad and Tobago can be traced back to the first deaf school, which was opened in the 1940s. This article describes some of the ways in which signing in the country has been shaped by changing educational practices, and complex, multi-modal language contact. At various stages, Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language has been influenced by BSL, the ASL manual alphabet, ASL, English, and Trinidad English Creole. The article traces the emergence of new forms, the modification of existing ones, and the disappearance of others. It argues that understanding the emergence of the language can help clarify issues of variation, and correct misrepresentations that erase important aspects of the history of the Trinbagonian Deaf community.