Translanguaging Practices in Deaf Communities
Summary
Translanguaging in deaf communities refers to the dynamic use of multiple semiotic resources—sign languages, spoken or written languages, gesture and visual cues—to construct meaning in social interaction. Rather than treating each language modality as discrete, translanguaging recognises that deaf signers routinely blend elements of their full communicative repertoires to negotiate identity, access information and engage collaboratively. This approach challenges traditional monolingual and modality-specific frameworks by foregrounding the fluid, context-sensitive nature of language in deaf interaction.
Research on translanguaging among deaf populations has emphasised its pedagogical potential in inclusive classrooms, its role in professional and public interpreting settings, and its impact on self-representation and agency. Globally, practitioners and researchers are examining how translanguaging supports academic achievement, social inclusion and mental well-being, particularly for learners with diverse linguistic backgrounds or those navigating formal institutions. By uncovering the strategies through which deaf individuals draw on hybrid language practices, the field highlights practical applications for interpreter training, curriculum design and community empowerment.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Translanguaging Practices in Deaf Communities publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in translanguaging practices in deaf communities across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Translanguaging: The practice of drawing on multiple linguistic and semiotic resources across modalities to create meaning in interaction.
Linguistic repertoire: The complete set of language varieties and modalities that an individual can use for communication.
Enregisterment: The process by which certain language forms become recognised and indexed as part of social or regional identity.
Bimodal bilingualism: The ability to use two languages in different modalities, typically a sign language and a spoken/written language, within one communicative event.
References
- Translanguaging practices in adult education for deaf migrants. DELTA Documentação de Estudos em Lingüística Teórica e Aplicada (2023).
- Deaf signing diversity and signed language translations. Applied Linguistics Review (2021).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.