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Donovan Wright: ‘Teaching South African Sign Language is my great passion’

23 September 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin

Donovan Wright recently joined the University of the Free State (UFS) as a lecturer in the Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies. As a passionate young academic, Wright ‘found his love’ for SASL during his undergraduate years at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).

In 2016, for the fulfilment of his master’s degree at Wits, Wright completed a thesis titled ‘A preliminary description of South African Sign Language syntax’. He is currently pursuing his PhD at Wits, and his research interests lie in the linguistics of SASL, which became his focus during his postgraduate studies. In his PhD research he focuses on (particular) constructions within SASL and how to best describe and analyse them. “I chose to use an approach to language and grammar not tied to how we perceive and understand spoken languages,” he says.

‘Teaching SASL is my great passion’

His appointment as a SASL lecturer at the UFS is a fulfilment of his passion for teaching. “Sign languages are commonly misunderstood and thought to be pantomime or gesture,” he says. “These common misconceptions are the first topic we tackle – whether by linguistic or social argument.” As a SASL linguistics lecturer he says it’s this aspect of the modules that is so rewarding, especially “seeing students realise something new about a sign they already know and have been using. Learning about language while learning a language has its benefits.”

Empowering students is about access

Wright says access to education is a fundamental right for every student, and that empowering Deaf scholars will ultimately improve how Deaf students access information at universities and elsewhere. “While many students attend university and access their education in a language that is not their mother tongue, Deaf students using SASL are additionally learning across modalities.”

September is designated as Deaf Awareness Month, with one important aim being to highlight and improve sign language education. The Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies has planned numerous events and initiatives during this month, which will raise awareness and provide community education by visiting schools.

“The next step is ensuring an environment in which Deaf students who choose to pursue a career in academia are not hindered. Our Deaf students are our future Deaf academics,” Wright says.

• Members of the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies will, among other planned events, provide community interpreting services and visit schools in surrounding areas. This year the department is launching a university ‘Deaf Space’ where students, staff, or anyone wishing to engage in SASL can interact, provided you ‘leave your voice at the door’.

News Archive

New residences open on Bloemfontein Campus

2013-01-21

Photo: Johan Roux
21 January 2013

Beginning 2013, the Bloemfontein Campus is seeing the opening of two new residences where male and female students will be housed under one roof but in separate units. Each residence will house 250 students.

House ConLaurês and House Outeniqua were opened for their first-years and Residence Committee (RC) on Friday 18 January 2013. The two newly Residence Heads, Mr Frank Makhabane (ConLaurês) and Mrs Leani Wimble (Outeniqua) welcomed the new residents.

The uniqueness of these residences is that they will be the first co-ed residences on campus. These residences are wheel chair friendly with fully equipped disabled rooms available. All signage has also been done in Braille. Each floor of the new residences has two lounges, as well as a fully fitted kitchen.

The Prime of House ConLaurês, Sherilyn Roelofse, says, “We aim to create a living space that is holistic and welcoming and will allow our residence members to be able to excel in a number of things”. Sherilyn says ConLaurês comes from the word “Condo Laurus”, which means dreams of victory. The House’s slogan is “The Symphony of Dreams”. Students came up with the name for the residence.

Tsatsi Mokoena, RC member responsible for RAG at House ConLaurês says RC members have been working hard for the past few months, trying to imagine how to do things without a physical structure. ConLaurês will be a residence with an inspirational living space where each student feels welcome, respected for who they are and at home, so that they will have the confidence to follow their dreams.”

The Prime of Outeniqua, Vusumzi Mesatywa says, “Change is always welcome and that is the mindset that we will be embracing as the new residences. When a student graduates, we need them to graduate not only as academics, but also as humans, holistic beings”.

Marla Stanier, RC First-Year Mentor at Outeniqua, says that new experiences await every student that walks through the doors of the residence. “As excited as we are, this new experience will test us in many ways.However, if we stand together as one, we will succeed.”

Mr Quintin Koetaan, Director of Housing and Residence Affairs, says, “The opening of ConLaurês and Outeniqua is a dream come true, providing accommodation for a new generation of students in the 21st Century”.

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