Sign Language Linguistics Research Section (SiLLR), funded by the Nippon Foundation, was established at the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan on April 1, 2016. In collaboration with specialists in Japan and abroad, we will conduct research and host events with the following two goals.

1. Promotion of research on Sign Language Linguistics

The promotion of research on Sign Language Linguistics includes both research and its dissemination, by reaching out to universities, sign language interpreters, and the general public. We will continue to host international conferences for researchers to present their findings as a basis for continued research on signed and spoken languages. This should ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the nature of human language. In addition, we will provide opportunities for understanding the current state of the art of the field, by inviting specialists from abroad to offer lectures on sign and spoken language linguistics.

2. Training of interpreters between spoken Japanese and Japanese Sign Language

Training of Sign Language interpreters is essential for providing a base of efficient and accurate communicators between Deaf and hearing researchers, and will ultimately result in better educational opportunities for Deaf members of the community. We will also seek for ways to establish a sustainable system for educating interpreters to meet foreseeable demands of future academic communities.