15/10/24 - Krister Schönström (Stockholm University)

Abstract

In this talk, I will discuss the acquisition of sign language by a specific group: deaf adult migrants. As part of the Mulder project, we have explored the language situation of this group from various perspectives (see Holmström, 2024, for a project overview). In one sub-study, we examined their acquisition of Swedish Sign Language (STS) (e.g., Schönström & Holmström, 2022). Using a descriptive study design, we elicited and analyzed narratives from the deaf migrants, focusing on their vocabulary and syntactic production. Overall, the findings suggest that the language outcomes of the migrants are linked to their diverse linguistic backgrounds. In the talk, the analysis and results will be presented in detail and discussed, particularly in relation to existing research and theories on L2/Ln acquisition.