Deaf Hawaiians prefer the name Hawai‘i Pidgin Sign Language
PrintDeaf Hawaiians prefer the name Hawai‘i Pidgin Sign Language
There is currently a push by Deaf Hawaiians (ethnically Hawaiian or hapa -mixed- Hawaiian)[1] to return to the name Hawai‘i Pidgin Sign Language for their old sign language, not the newer name, Hawai‘i Sign Language (HSL). Some Pidgin signs are still in use and are based on Hawaiian words that Deaf Hawaiians embrace. They reject the newer name and version that they associate with outsiders.
The name Pidgin Sign Language has been used a long time, by Ethnologue as well as others. A 1915 Honolulu news article referred to Pidgin Sign Language being used in court to question a deaf witness.[2] The free online dictionary and translator website sensagent lists it as Hawai‘i Pidgin Sign Language.[3] This name is preferred by Deaf Hawaiians.
[1] Prominent Deaf Hawaiian spokespersons include Maile Paongo, Hilda Silva Lopez, and Joy Enos. They have a number of local supporters of all ethnicities who are Deaf, most of whom attended the Hawai‘i School for the Deaf and Blind.
[2] Deaf Mute Oath Taken for First time in Hawaii. The Hawaiian gazette. January 08, 1915, Page 4. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025121/1915-01-08/ed-1/seq-4...
[3] http://dictionary.sensagent.com/Hawaii%20Pidgin%20Sign%20Language/en-en/...
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Thank you, Barbara, for these links. I will investigate the situation and see what is appropriate to adjust the Ethnologue entry.
After discussing this issue further with Barbara Earth and James "Woody" Woodward, I have made adjustments to the entry that report the disagreements people have on this issue. We are retaining the name "Hawai`i Sign Language" as the primary name because that is what is currently in the ISO 639-3 standard. In fact, the standard was changed in 2013 away from the name Hawai`i Pidgin Sign Language because it was not a pidgin and it was not a signed version of Hawai`i Pidgin (although there are some cultural influences from Hawai`i Pidgin). If users of the language prefer to go back to the older name, they should submit a proposal for a name change to the ISO 639-3 registrar. I have also adjusted spelling of names like Hawai`i to include the okina and have clarified certain other issues. The new entry will appear in the 2023 edition of Ethnologue.
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