ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OF YOLNGU (YOLNU) SIGN LANGUAGE *TO ORDER ONLY

Temporarily out of stock

ISBN: YOLNGU

***SPECIAL ORDER ONLY***

At 25cm, 328-pages the Handbook is a guide to learning YSL in English and Yolngu matha, stunningly photographed by Theresa Ritchie and David Hancock. It demonstrates in sequenced images the use, structure, and conventions of over five hundred Yolngu hand signs. It also includes an extraordinary section of previously unknown and undescribed idiomatic hand signs of an earlier era, fortunately saved for posterity, by an older generation. It includes Illustrations, Maps, Reference, Grammar, Learners Guide, A Yolngu Bilingual Identification Guide and English Index. World experts in YSL Prof. Adone, M.C.D. & Dr Maypilama E. L, have organised a stunning visual guide to semantic domains of Yolngu Sign Language “Bringing together YSL signs and English translation with pictorial illustrations, it is a resource for bilingual education in schools, on homelands, in communities…and for English speakers to learn YSL. It includes notes on the history, use and grammar of Indigenous Sign Languages, Natural Semantic Metalanguage and insightful cultural translation. It includes a learner’s guide, grammar, cross-cultural beginner’s mini-language, example sentences, hand shapes, interpretation and composition of signs, movement, location and orientation of signs and their non-manual elements. Designed by Therese Ritchie it is a landmark in endangered language preservation, collaboration and bilingual-bimodal education.

Patrick Dodson declares: “This work is a rare and wonderful tribute to Yolngu language shaped over untold generations, – as it is to those who continue, in the face of great obstacles, to show leadership and courage in care for kin and country. This work celebrates leaders like Baymarrwanga (1917-2014), for her lifelong commitment to educating all about language, culture and biological integrity of Yolngu connection to place.” The Hon P. Dodson. 2020.

Author: YOLNGU SIGN LANGUAGE