National Institute for Deaf Studies and Sign Language
About NIDS
The National Institute for Deaf Studies and Sign Language (NIDS) was established in 1993 to provide a national focus for research into the Australian deaf community. Our research has focussed on Auslan (Australian Sign Language), but has also encompassed other sign languages (e.g., British Sign Language, New Zealand Sign Language, Taiwan Sign Language, Kata Kolok in northern Bali), and the culture and history of the Australian deaf community. Our students have included deaf and hearing people interested in sign language and deaf studies, including teachers of deaf children and sign language teachers.Our research is recognised nationally and internationally and ranges from the theoretical to the highly practical. As the only facility of its kind in Australia, we collaborate with and host visits from colleagues from other parts of Australia and elsewhere in the world.
Most of our staff members are native or fluent users of sign language. The La Trobe University library has a special collection of material on sign language research and deaf studies. We work closely with the Australian deaf community and offer excellent support for both deaf and hearing postgraduate research students.
Principal areas of specialisation
Our research strengths are sign language linguistics (Auslan, British Sign Language, and other sign languages), sociolinguistic variation and language change in sign languages, sign language typology, corpus-based approaches to sign language research, gesture studies, second language acquisition of sign languages, deaf culture and deaf history.
We have links with deaf organisations throughout the world. Our staff are available for consultancy and research work in language use, language teaching, language development, classroom evaluation and testing, curriculum development and working with deaf people.
Auslan
Auslan is an acronym of Australian Sign Language. It is closely related to British Sign Language and New Zealand Sign Language and used by several thousand deaf and hearing people in Australia. Knowing Auslan makes it easier to learn related sign languages in the UK and New Zealand and provides a good basis for learning other unrelated sign languages in other parts of the world.
For more information, see:
Johnston, T & Schembri, A (2007). Australian Sign Language (Auslan): An introduction to sign language linguistics. Cambridge University Press.
NIDS Resources
NIDS produces a wide range of videos in Auslan for teachers and students, together with support material in print.
NIDS Publication Order Form (PDF 248KB)
Our staff
Our academic staff are dedicated and experienced experts in the field, committed to producing relevant research and strong student learning outcomes.
