Bachelor of Arts Honours: South African Sign Language

Purpose

The Purpose of this qualification is to produce skilled South African Sign Language (SASL) practitioners who can be involved in issues pertaining to South African Sign Language and the Deaf community in the context of social transformation. Graduates will be able to offer their services in terms of much needed research in the field of South African Sign Language.

The qualification will enable graduates to develop research questions, gather data independently and write research reports in various areas of study, which will contribute not only to the development of a marginalised language, but also to the development of opportunities for deaf South Africans.

Graduates, who prefer not to focus on research only, can contribute in the fields of interpreting, by providing much-needed access to mainstream society for deaf persons and to education, as educators who are proficient in South African Sign Language. In addition, those graduates who have already majored in drama could combine South African Sign Language with two courses from Dramatic Arts in an Honours programme and so contribute to the development of the dramatic arts in South African Sign Language for deaf audiences.

This qualification aims to strengthen students' knowledge and use of South African Sign Language at the discourse level using different registers by means of the creative production of texts, as well as the translation of texts, both from South African Sign Language to English, and English to South African Sign Language. Specialised vocabulary will be developed accordingly.

Rationale

South African Sign Language (SASL) is offered in a very limited number of undergraduate qualifications as a major subject and there is a consequent lack of Postgraduate qualifications in South African Sign Language. This has resulted in a dearth of research in the field of South African Sign Language. With the development of a task team convened by the Minister of Education to address the matter of South African Sign Language as a subject for the school curriculum, there will also be a need for skilled South African Sign Language practitioners. This, in turn, means that there is an urgent need for research that codifies South African Sign Language.

This qualification will be available to a wide range of students with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and the required proficiency in South African Sign Language. The current student profile indicates that students majoring in South African Sign Language have interests in education, clinical psychology, clinical educational psychology, interpreting and drama. Graduates will therefore add value to all of these career paths.

There is, at present, a limited number of available South African Sign Language practitioners in South Africa. Therefore skilled South African Sign Language graduates are sorely needed in the education sector. In addition, it has become apparent that there is very little research available on the documenting and codifying of South African Sign Language structures and dialects. Due to the past fragmentation of the Deaf community in education, South African Sign Language is a language undergoing rapid change and research is needed to document this. Competent signers need to be trained as interpreters.

According to the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA) there are approximately 500 000 deaf people using South African Sign Language and approximately 188 interpreters active in the field with varying levels of competency in South African Sign Language. Graduates in this qualification would be able to follow interpreting as a career, thus ensuring access to information for a marginalised group.

Deaf people have limited access to mental health services in South Africa due to lack of interpreters and resources. It is envisaged that some of the graduates will go on to study clinical psychology and will be able to provide therapy to the deaf without the use of interpreters.

South Africa has long lagged behind other countries in offering training in the field of sign language. For the last 20 years, such training has been widely offered in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia. The registration of this qualification in South African Sign Language will provide education and training in a priority area of need in South Africa.

It is assumed that the applicant

• Has acquired the knowledge and skills associated with studying at NQF Level 7.
• Has competencies in South African Sign Language at NQF Level 7.
• Is proficient in English.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applicants who do not meet all the access requirements of the qualification but can provide evidence of relevant experience in some of the areas required, may be admitted on the basis of the Recognition of Prior Learning. Verified evidence must be provided.

Access to the Qualification

Students must have

• Successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts or an appropriate equivalent qualification at NQF Level 7.
• Attained an aggregate of at least 65% or higher in a major discipline that is appropriate for the Bachelor of Arts Honours: South African Sign Language.

Students who did not major in South African Sign Language will be expected to undergo a South African Sign Language proficiency evaluation prior to being accepted into the programme.

All the modules, each totalling 30 Credits, are at NQF Level 8 and are compulsory.

Minimum Credits required for the qualification: 150.

Modules

• South African Sign Language Research Essay, 30 Credits.
• The Linguistic Description of South African Sign Language, 30 Credits.
• Specialised South African Sign Language, 30 Credits.
• Sociolinguistics of South African Sign Language, 30 Credits.
• South African Sign Language Research Methodology, 30 Credits.

1. Communicate and produce information using a range of technologies.
2. Demonstrate critical analytic competence and problem solving.
3. Demonstrate competence in managing self.
4. Demonstrate social competence.
5. Demonstrate research competence.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

• Identifying and solving problems are demonstrated in the application of relevant theoretical information to an actual situation.
• Team work is demonstrated in the successful interactions with peers and others.
• Organising self is demonstrated in the successful management of own time and the achieving of own goals.
• Collating information is indicated in the successful completion of a research project.
• Effective communicating is demonstrated throughout the working period by successful interactions with all categories of people.
• Utilising science and technology is clearly indicated in the keeping of records and the production of a successful research report.
• Understanding the world as a set of related systems is indicated in the selection of the chosen field of work and the successful functioning therein.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

1.1 Apply appropriate database search strategies.

1.2 Collect, select, organise and interpret different kinds of data in conducting research.

1.3 Read and critically evaluate texts and data.

1.4 Use effective argumentation skills to represent own position in relation to debates.

1.5 Identify and help to resolve ethical issues relevant to South African Sign Language.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

2.1 Interpret and criticise the subject matter of a discipline.

2.2 Apply critical approaches to solving problems by integrating relevant information and theory.

2.3 Evaluate limitations of different theoretical models.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

3.1 Set own goals and manage own time with minimal supervision.

3.2 Respond appropriately to feedback from peers.

3.3 Assess self on oral and written presentations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

4.1 Identify and execute tasks responsibly.

4.2 Accommodate diversity in all social interactions.

4.3 Work in harmony with all categories of individuals.

4.4 Give effective feedback, both as an individual and as a member of a group.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

5.1 Identify own field of enquiry/discipline and investigate and track the necessary information.

5.2 Adhere to ethical requirements when carrying out research.

5.3 Apply an appropriate research method whilst conducting the relevant research project.

5.4 Read in the selected field of enquiry/discipline.

5.5 Apply academic research and critical evaluation within the selected field of enquiry/discipline.

5.6 Assess the findings, write the report and draw conclusions arising from the research.

5.7 Present a research report in accordance with institutional requirements.

Integrated Assessment

A battery of assessment instruments is used in learner assessment.

These include

• Written and oral/signed examinations.
• Selected essays and assignments.
• A research report within specified parameters, all of which contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the area of South African Sign Language.