The purpose of my project entails bringing awareness to the linguistic and cultural diversity of Yucatec Mayan Sign Language (YMSL) by analyzing the unique qualities of this indigenous language through a sociolinguistic lens. Many visual/manual languages such as British Sign Language and Mexican Sign Language are well-studied and categorized as national languages because the majority of the country’s signers already use them – the language is widespread. On the other end of the spectrum, Yucatec Mayan Sign Language is categorized according to the progression of its usage. Therefore, this language is classified as emerging, meaning it is relatively new to linguistic knowledge and coming from a smaller group of communicators. To fully grasp the multifaceted nature of YMSL’s presence and impact, I analyzed various sources that explore the language’s characteristics, uses, and sociolinguistic contexts within two Mayan communities: Chicán and Nokhop. By researching this field, I hope to bring visibility to the sign language utilized by residents with and without hearing disabilities in communities of the Yucatán Peninsula, unveiling diverse knowledge regarding the multimodality of Yucatec Mayan Sign Language.
