IDENTIFYING THE DEFICIENCY OF SCIENTIFIC LEXICON IN PAKISTAN SIGN LANGUAGE: INSIGHTS OF PRIMARY SCIENCE TEACHERS OF DEAF

Abstract

This study examines the vocabulary gaps in the Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) by identifying scientific terms that lack standardized signs, from the 5th-grade Punjab science textbook, seeking feedback from science teachers, and exploring the strategies they employ when no sign is available. A thorough content analysis of the book found that a large proportion of key scientific words, particularly technical and scientific concepts, do not have existing signs in PSL. A multistage proportionate random sampling method was employed to select 101 science teachers of hearing-impaired students from 11 districts across 5 randomly selected divisions of Punjab. The teachers’ responses of validated these gaps and provided insight into the coping strategies they use in teaching, such as fingerspelling, skipping the word, or using alternative sign. Such strategies, although effective, such strategies are likely to impact effective communication and compromise conceptual understanding of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) students. A total of 51 scientific words were found to be lacking in PSL highlighting the urgent need to create standardized signs. The research concludes that addressing these lexical gaps is crucial to ensure inclusive science education. It also suggests collaborative sign creation, the incorporation of new words into teacher education, visual learning tool development, and policy initiatives to facilitate continuing the extension of PSL. The results provide a foundation for improving accessibility and equity in science education for DHH students in Pakistan.