Speaker Biography
Peng Lin is President of the Sino-French Deaf Culture Association and currently serves as a French Sign Language teacher at the MJC Youth Center in Toulouse, France. She will soon begin her undergraduate studies in the French Sign Language Teaching Program at Paris 8 University. She has long been dedicated to the promotion of Deaf culture and sign language education, having organized numerous public-interest sign language workshops and courses. She has worked as a sign language interpreter for Sino-French Deaf cultural exchange projects and has participated in the production of the program Eyes and Hands for France 5, actively advancing the dissemination and exchange of Deaf culture to benefit both Deaf and hearing communities.
Lecture Time & Venue
Lecture Time: December 4, 16:30–18:00
Lecture Venue: Lecture Hall 103, Teaching Building No. 5, Songjiang Campus
Lecture Title
A Glimpse into French Sign Language from an Insider’s Perspective: History, Trends, and Cultural Power
Lecture Abstract
French Sign Language (LSF) is a language with a complete grammatical and lexical system, serving as a cornerstone of identity and cultural transmission within the French Deaf community. Its developmental trajectory has been marked by profound shifts—from the establishment of the world’s first school for the Deaf, to its resilient preservation within the community through periods of suppression, culminating in its eventual legal recognition as an integral component of France’s cultural diversity.
The lecture will highlight the contemporary flourishing of French Sign Language, focusing on emerging developments in areas such as educational equity, artistic innovation (including sign language poetry and theater), and digital technology applications, showcasing the modern vitality of this visual language.
It will further explore how French Sign Language, as a core element of cultural identity, has shaped the cohesion and pride of the Deaf community, and through a rich array of festivals and cultural activities, reveals its profound capacity to foster social inclusion and diverse coexistence.
