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Auslan Endorsement SystemBackgroundAuslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language used by the Australian Deaf community. Auslan is not the same as sign languages used in other countries- different countries use different sign languages.Research into Auslan is relatively new and ongoing, and authoritative information about Auslan based on research is limited, with much more research needing to be done. Click for more information on Auslan (Australian Sign Language) Many materials are being published that claim to use and/or teach Auslan, many by people who are not native users of the language, and some of these materials use Auslan incorrectly. This is cause for concern to Deaf Australia. There is indeed a need for more Auslan resources and Deaf Australia encourages Auslan authors to create more materials. However, the publication, promotion and sale of resources that use Auslan incorrectly does not help the user / learner, the Auslan language, or the Australian Deaf community whose language is Auslan. In the absence of more definitive research, it is Deaf Australia's view that it is not appropriate for anyone to set themselves up as “the authority” on Auslan. However, there is a need for guidance in the use of Auslan in published materials, by those who know and use the language as their own. To this end Deaf Australia has established this Auslan Endorsement System, which tests materials and if they meet the criteria, they will be endorsed by Deaf Australia. All of our testers are fluent users of Auslan with an indepth knowledge of the language, the Deaf community and its culture (see the separate document that sets out the criteria Deaf Australia uses to select testers) but it must be acknowledged that in the absence of more definitive research, this system necessarily has an element of subjectivity. Deaf Australia does, however, believe this is the best possible system that can be offered in the current situation. We urge authors to use it to ensure their materials are as accurate and faithful to Auslan as possible within our current knowledge. We also urge all those who buy materials to buy Deaf Australia endorsed materials. If materials are not Deaf Australia endorsed, then when considering whether or not to purchase them special attention needs to be given to the material's author/s and their level of fluency and knowledge of Auslan and the community of people whose language it is. Auslan Endorsement SystemCategory 1 - Auslan signs and grammar
Category 2 - Auslan signs and grammar
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