Adding diversity to Auslan – developing an Islamic signs lexicon

Deaf communities and Auslan (Australian sign language) interpreters need agreed upon vocabulary to work from, especially as diverse public events, such as interpreted Islamic religious lectures, are nationally broadcast live online. This research examines the process of co-creating and endorsing Auslan signs for Islamic Arabic words and concepts. The research considers how people can work together to develop inclusive access to information, language and translation, while ensuring it accurately represents the intersectional experiences of people with disability. It aims to add diversity to Auslan by codifying new signed vocabulary that reflects the growing usage within the deaf and hard of hearing Muslim population in Australia. 

This project is led by deaf and disabled researchers who engage directly with the Deaf Muslim community, and advisors including Auslan interpreters and religious scholars. Using an approach of deliberative dialogue, the research includes a workshop with deaf or hard of hearing Muslims to review selected Islamic words and deliberatively engage in a process to create and agree on one or two signs. The process and the new signs are to inform training and capacity building for the wider Auslan community including deaf people, Auslan interpreters, religious teachers and families.