Chosun University Hosts 'Sign Language Lecture Series' with International Scholars

Group photo of the 2025 Sign Language Lecture by Invited Overseas Scholars. Provided by Chosun University

The Language Convergence Research Institute at Chosun University (President Kim Choonseong) recently announced on the 16th that it has successfully concluded the '2025 Invited International Scholars Sign Language Lecture Series'.

This lecture series, held on the 11th and 12th, featured presentations spanning a wide range of topics that cross the boundaries between sign language and general linguistics, including the grammar of Korean and sign language, language acquisition, and more.

On the first day, the 11th, the lectures included: ▲Professor Min-Joo Kim (Texas Tech University) and Professor Kang Areum (Chungnam National University) on 'Definiteness in Korean and Beyond'; ▲Professor Peter Byun (Alliant International University) on 'Second Language Acquisition for Sign Language Learning'; ▲Professor Seongha Rhee (Mahidol University) and Professor Choi Youngjoo (Chosun University) on 'Grammaticalization of Identity in Korean and Beyond'.

On the 12th, Professor Gaurav Mathur (Gallaudet University) and Professor Christian Rathmann (Humboldt University) gave lectures in American Sign Language on classifiers and verb agreement in sign language.

Korean and Korean Sign Language interpretation was provided for the lectures, which were broadcast live via the online video conferencing platform Zoom, enabling active participation from sign language scholars, linguists, sign language education experts, and related institutional representatives both domestically and internationally.

Choi Youngjoo, Director of the Language Convergence Research Institute, stated, "This lecture series enables a multi-layered approach to sign language research and offers new insights into the structural characteristics of sign language and linguistic universality," adding, "It was a meaningful occasion for researchers from home and abroad to share academic achievements and explore possibilities for collaboration."

Kim Choonseong, President of Chosun University, remarked, "Ongoing exchanges with world-renowned sign language scholars will further strengthen Chosun University's foundation for interdisciplinary research," and added, "We will continue to actively expand our global research network in the future."