Since linguistic and anthropological study of sign languages began in
the 1960s, most research has focused on national sign languages, with
scant attention paid to indigenous and original sign languages.
Vulnerable to extinction, the latter varieties can expand our
understanding of language universals, language typologies, historical
comparative linguistics, and other areas. Using Thailand as a case
study and drawing on three examples – a rare phonological form,
basic color terminology, and baby talk/motherese – from Ban
Khor Sign Language, an indigenous signed code, this article describes
the problem of benign neglect of sign languages in current discussions
of language endangerment and argues for the importance of expanding
such discussions to include codes expressed in the manual-visual
channel.The linguistic field research
upon which this article is based was funded by the Endangered Language
Fund, the Explorers Club, IIE Fulbright, Sign Language Research Inc.,
the Thai-U.S. Educational Foundation, the UCLA Department of Anthropology,
the UCLA Office of International Studies and Overseas Programs, the UCLA
Wagatsuma Memorial Fund, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation. I wish to thank
the following individuals and groups for their assistance in various phases
of the project: Alexis Altounian, Poonpit Amatyakul, Jean Ann, Wendy Belcher,
Ursula Bellugi, Steve Bickler, Ken Kamler, Peter Ladefoged, Tuanvu Le,
Chettah Madminggao, Nutjaree Madminggao, Marina McIntire, Carmella Moore,
Pam Munro, Carol Padden, Diana Pash, Nilawan Pitipat, Claire Ramsey, Chip
Reilly, Olga Solomon, Kelly Stack, Laura Sterponi, Viphavee Vongpumivitch,
and Akira Yamamoto. Special thanks belong to Vien Champa, Lahsee Khammee,
Jintala Anuyahong, Anucha Ratanasint, Khwanta Sukhwan, Nipha Sukhwan,
Phaiwan Sukhwan, Kampol Suwanarat, Thanu Wongchai, James C. Woodward, the
Ratchasuda Foundation, the National Association of the Deaf in Thailand,
and, of course, the community of Ban Khor.