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As a direct result of research conducted by Professor Bencie Woll at the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL), UCL, the NHS has established the first neuropsychology clinic for Deaf patients who use British Sign Language within the Cognitive Disorders clinic at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN). By developing services for this under-researched group, NHS provision has become accessible for the first time, benefiting both patients and service providers. We have disseminated our resources around the world, and have highlighted them to the Deaf community through a unique programme of public engagement. Our research has also influenced UK government policy on Deafness.
The impact derives from research into the experiences of Deaf Christians, revealing the extent of their marginalization within hearing culture but also providing qualitative evidence of autonomous expressions of theological understanding expressed through the medium of sign language. This has informed the development of a programme in Theology for the Church of England, delivered in British Sign Language, which has enabled a number of Deaf candidates to pursue accredited Christian ministry. The research has also contributed to raising awareness of the needs of people with disabilities within the churches, resulting in tangible changes in policy and provision.
The International Institute for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) is a world leader in the systematic comparative research on sign languages (Sign Language Typology), and conducts the world's largest typological projects on sign language structures, using a large international partnership network. The impact of this work, often in developing countries, is seen in the domains of:
a) improved educational attainment and professional development for marginalised groups (deaf sign language users); and
b) linguistic rights for sign language users through engagement with international policy makers, non-governmental organisations and professional bodies (in India, in Turkey and with international bodies).
The primary impact of our research has been through systems that provide information for the deaf community via animated sign language. Tools exploiting our research into automatic generation of human motion, especially for sign language, are used in several ways:
The same avatar (animated character) technology has also been applied in two other arenas: as a foreign language learning resource for primary school children and to add value to cultural heritage presentations.
Professor David Crystal's world-leading research on language policy, diversity and usage, conducted at Bangor since 2000, has led to a transformation in terms of public and political attitudes, both nationally and internationally, towards the nature and use of language in public and private discourse. In particular, the research has led, since 2008, to an increased awareness of linguistic diversity, changes to governmental policies on language, and the development of the world's first targeted online advertising technology, which today indexes billions of impressions across 11 languages to provide real-time data services in the emerging online advertising world.
Dr Julia Sallabank's research into Guernsey's little-studied indigenous language, Guernesiais, has greatly informed language planning and policy on the island, particularly with regard to teaching methods and raising awareness of the language among the population. Moreover, her documentation of Guernesiais, specifically the recording of audio samples, constitutes a significant contribution to the preservation of Guernsey's identity and cultural heritage. Sallabank's broader expertise on the revitalisation of endangered languages has also been solicited by language officials elsewhere, notably Jersey, the Isle of Man and New Caledonia, and resulted in her participation in UNESCO's Panel of Experts on language diversity.
The research of Professor Paul Simpson and Dr Joan Rahilly has informed and enhanced the broader awareness and understanding of English language in the context of secondary level education in Northern Ireland, and has had particular influence on both clinical and developmental assessment of language use. The end users who have benefited from this research include (i) schools, colleges and lifelong learning, (ii) health and well-being agencies, and (iii) voluntary organisations and charities. The main achievements can be summarised as:
The International Institute for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) has led a large consortium conducting the first-ever substantial comparative study on endangered sign languages in small-scale rural communities with long-standing hereditary deafness ("village sign languages"). The global impact of this work is seen primarily in the domain of language endangerment through work with UNESCO, with the Foundation for Endangered Languages, and with the World Federation of the Deaf. This work also leads to improved educational attainment and professional development for the marginalised users of these sign languages, and the promotion of their linguistic rights.
Building on their groundbreaking research and collaborative networks, Babych and Sharoff have developed a range of language technologies which now reach major corporations, small specialist businesses, a large industrial consortium, and agencies of the EU and UN. Their translation tools have had significant industrial impact by improving efficiency, consistency and user experience, and leveraging existing data collections for new purposes. In terms of policy, the research has re-shaped attitudes toward the ownership of data by demonstrating the commercial value of pooling resources. Individual translators have also benefitted from these technologies and related CPD courses, helping them to improve document flow, terminology and translation activities.
Deborah Cameron's research focuses on the relationship between gender and language, using sociolinguistic evidence and contemporary theories of gender and identity to examine and challenge widespread beliefs about the differing verbal abilities and behaviour of men and women. Through broadcasting, public speaking and engagement with non-academic professional groups, including secondary school English teachers, Cameron communicates the results of her (and others') research to a broad audience in Britain and internationally. She has raised awareness of sociolinguistic approaches to gender, has provided resources for professionals concerned with issues of equality and diversity, and has contributed to the public understanding of science.