This project investigates from a multidisciplinary perspective the characteristics of children's Finnish Sign Language (FinSL) development and learning according to their vocabulary, grammatical and narrative skills and the features in their linguistic environment. Research on children's sign language development is a fairly new field of research, and crucial knowledge on how sign language is acquired and how it develops in children is lacking. This research will bring new theoretical, methodological and technological insights into children's SL development and learning, which will have great societal impacts. The knowledge produced by the research is highly beneficial and needed for children's sign language teaching, education and especially securing the equality in the society of signing children and their families. The research will be carried out in the Sign Language Centre of the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

2023

2027