The Letter from the Editors of the new Deaf Studies Digital Journal:Greetings—
We, the editors of the Deaf Studies Digital Journal—Dirksen Bauman and Ben Bahan--would like to welcome you to this inaugural issue. We hope that you will find DSDJ to be as an important milestone in the history of signed languages as we believe it to be. For a long time, we have felt the need for a publishing mechanism that allows the research, theory, insights, and creative production from signing communities to be presented in video format, opening the way for a bilingual publication in both signed and written languages.
While the predominant languages of DSDJ are American Sign Language and English, we also feature an articles which translate from original English texts into International Sign, British Sign Language and Italian Sign Language. We look forward to a future of exploration regarding the largely untapped potential for video publication and dissemination of scholarship and creative activity through video.
While DSDJ is a peer-reviewed journal of scholarly and creative output, this inaugural issue was largely the work of the editors and members of the editorial board. Since the technology and format is so new, we felt the need to produce the first issue so that potential contributors could understand the mechanisms and requirements to submit their work. The renowned members of the editorial board will ensure that DSDJ maintains the highest quality of work possible.We look forward to a new era of bilingual scholarship that will set the standard for academic discourse in signed languages. We hope that DSDJ signals the final note in putting to rest the myths regarding the inherent inferiority of manual languages.
Yet, as we look forward to a future of robust scholarship and creativity from the signing community, we must look back to all of those who have made DSDJ a possibility. When the editors Bahan and Bauman introduced the idea for DSDJ to the Chair of the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies, Dr. MJ Bienvenu, she immediately went to work to see how this journal could come to fruition. Then Provost of Gallaudet University, Dr. Jane K. Fernandes immediately supported the idea with a commitment of support from her office. The University carried out this commitment of support from the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Paul Kelly.The initial support was crucial in hiring a webdesign company, CraigInteractive (see craiginteractive.com) for their expertise in web development and the design of a custom made Content Management System.
During the development of DSDJ, several students committed an immense amount of time and effort to this project: Will Garrow, Bridget Klein, Andrew Jones, and Shane Dundas. Once we were able to secure the position of Managing Editor—thanks to the support from the Dean of the Graduate School and Professional Programs, Carol Erting and the National Science Foundation Science of Learning Center, Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2), we were able to make significant process. This Journal is now online, largely due to the tireless efforts of Melissa Malzkuhn, whose dedication to this project is only outmatched by her passion to see the impact on the status of the languages of deaf communities around the world.
Crucial assistance has also been given by the Gallaudet University ITS department, run by Jon Mitchiner and aided by Jay Scotton and Jared Evans. In addition, we received support from the Department of Interpretation, namely Dr. Risa Shaw and Juniper Sussmann, along with students Emily Schenker and Fallon Brinzendine.
Also, the Chair of the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies, Dr. Arlene B. Kelley, the administrative assistance from Kim Sexton and graduate student Taye Akinola have provided invaluable support leading up to the launch of DSDJ.We invite you to explore, watch, learn, critique and discuss the offerings found in DSDJ. And even more importantly, please consider becoming a contributor to the volume. If you are interested in submitting your work, see the “submissions” link on the bottom of the home page of DSDJ.
We look forward to seeing from you,
The Executive Editors,
Dirksen Bauman, Ph.D.
Ben Bahan, Ph.D.DEAF STUDIES DIGITAL JOURNAL
http://dsdj.gallaudet.edu/