Blue epistemologies of indigenous sign languages

Abstract

The blue epistemologies of indigenous sign languages ​​emerging in intercultural contexts seek to reflect on the theoretical assumptions of deaf studies in indigenous contexts. These are epistemological reflections carried out by researchers João Carlos Gomes, from the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR) and Shirley Vilhalva from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS). The study will seek to reflect on the emerging signs used by deaf indigenous people in the processes of communication and expression in indigenous contexts. The study will have as an epistemological basis the post-critical assumptions of theoretical studies of emerging sign languages. Based on these theoretical assumptions, the researchers analyzed the communication and expression strategies used through natural signs that make emerging signs in indigenous sign language based on the culture and identity of indigenous deaf people. The study will demonstrate that family signs have intercultural iconographic configurations that can be used as their own teaching-learning processes in the context of indigenous schools. In this perspective, researchers recognize that most emerging languages ​​have a duration that are "established" according to the need for communication and expression processes in indigenous territories. These are languages ​​that are institutionalized by small groups of deaf indigenous people who use their cultural roots to produce emergent signs. These are languages ​​that go through a process of evolution faster than institutionalized sign languages. These emerging languages ​​are difficult to map and may not be uniform in their linguistic structures, considering lexicon, morphology, syntax and pragmatics.