Sociolinguistic Pathways in Sign Languages

Sociolinguistic Pathways in Sign Languages honors the remarkable career of Ceil Lucas, a pioneering sociolinguist whose research, teaching, and mentoring profoundly influenced the study of sign language linguistics. Both a heartfelt homage and a scholarly resource, this edited volume is an essential resource that assesses Lucas’s legacy and impact while setting the stage for new directions inspired by her work. Lucas advanced the field of sociolinguistics by demonstrating that variation in American Sign Language (ASL) was systematic and shaped by broader social dynamics. By providing compelling evidence for rule-governed patterns of variation, Lucas and her colleagues strengthened the case for recognizing signed languages as deserving of the same rigorous study as spoken languages. During a distinguished career characterized by more than 130 publications, Lucas not only helped define the field of sign language linguistics but also played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between spoken and signed language research, frequently collaborating with Deaf co-authors. In addition to her groundbreaking work in sociolinguistics, Lucas was also a key member of the team spearheading the scholarly study of Black American Sign Language (BASL). Contributors reflect on Lucas’s pedagogy, scholarship, and mentoring, highlighting her essential role in expanding opportunities for future generations of sign linguistics researchers. Recognizing the enduring relevance of Lucas’s contributions to sociolinguistics, this volume offers new scholarship that illustrates and extends the theoretical and methodological impact of her work.