METALINGUISTIC AWARENESS IN SIGN LANGUAGE: EPISTEMOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract: Studies on metalinguistic awareness (MLA) have been conducted mostly on spoken lan- guages. In recent years, much research has contributed to the description of Sign language structure, acquisition and learning. Although MLA is very much discussed in Sign language research, factors such as perception and usage are rarely taken into account and the epistemological level is seldom explored.The aim of the present paper is to discuss MLA as a dynamic concept at an epistemological level in relation to Sign and spoken languages in a comparative approach. The conceptual framework we are proposing here will consider the following factors: 1) the nature of language transmission 2) the presence of a form which allows for later analysis (a video versus a written form) 3) status and official acknowledgement of the language. Present users and typical contexts of use (formal and informal) will also be considered.