Deaf cultures and Sign Languages of the world: Estonia (Eesti)

Created 10 April 2000, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

Estonian flagDavid Bar-TzurEstonian flag

map of Estonia

Flag: World flag database.
Map: Maps.com - "search" for country, then "Digital Map Graphics"). OR
Map: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection.

For a quick, interesting resource for facts about this and other countries,
try Mystic Planet - The New Age directory of Planet Earth.

Note: A flag next to a link shows what language the website is in. If it is followed by this icon: (video camera: This links to a video), it is a video in that spoken language. A flag followed by Sign Language iconmeans it is in the sign language of that country. globe (international icon)Sign Language iconmeans there is International Gesture.

Cochlear implants Deaf culture Deaf education & youth Deaf sports & recreation Eesti viipekeel (Estonian Sign Language)
Eesti viipekeel (Estonian Sign Language) dictionaries Interpreter registration Interpreting agencies and organizations Notation systems (written and visual representations of Sign Languages) Organizations
Religion & Deafness

Cochlear implants

Eesti Kuulmispuuetega Laste Vanemate Liit - Implantaadilaste selts. Pealtnäha ei erine kurt laps kuidagi kuuljast lapsest ning tema titaea üldine areng kulgeb samamoodi nagu kõigil teistelgi. Kahtlused ja mure tekivad vanematel tavaliselt siis, kui on aru saada, et lapse kõne ei arene. Kuidas oma kurti last aidata? Kuidas teda suhtlema õpetada? Kaasaegsed kuulmisabivahendid, ka kuuldeaparaadid on üha täiuslikumad. Ometi ei ole kõigil kurtidel nendest piisavat abi kõne kuulmiseks ja omandamiseks. Sellistel juhtudel tuleb abivahendina kõne alla sisekõrva implantaat. Mis see implantaat on? Kellel sellest abi on? Kes on meie lapsed? Mida selle kohta kirjutatud on? Loe meie kodulehelt - tere tulemast!

Deaf culture

International bibliography of sign language - Estonia.

Paales, L. Estonian deaf biographies. The making of studies. The aim of this article is to analyse the prerequisites and possibilities of studying the life stories of the Estonian deaf. The term 'biography' will be treated in a broader sense, meaning different types of biographical material (reminiscences, narratives about biographical incidences, fragments, etc.). In the article I handle selected texts published in written media between the years 1935-1996.

Deaf education & youth

Eesti Kurtide Noorte Organisatsioon - Estonian Deaf Organization for Youth.

Deaf sports & recreation

Eesti Kurtide Spordiliit.

Eesti viipekeel (Estonian Sign Language)

Estonian Sign Language.

Estonian Sign Language: A language of Estonia.

International bibliography of sign language - Estonian Sign Language.

Laiapea,, V. (2007). Keel on lahti : tähendusi viipekeelest. Tallinn : Eesti Keele Sihtasutus - 127 + 1 DVD p.: ISBN: 978-9985-79179-0*Buch978-9985-79180-6*DVD.

Miljan, M.

golden marble bullet(2003). Number in Estonian Sign Language.

golden marble bullet(2000). The noun phrase in Estonian Sign Language from the typological perspective.

Paales, L.

golden marble bulletA HEARER’S INSIGHT INTO DEAF SIGN LANGUAGE FOLKLORE. The article discusses Estonian deaf lore, which comprises all folklore genres including specific language creation or sign lore characteristic of the deaf. Hearers’ lore has also exerted its influence on deaf lore. Local deaf lore includes memories of school years and family lore of members of the Estonian deaf community, sign lore based on Estonian sign language, etc. The main features of Estonian deaf lore are (i) the specific communicative form, i.e. sign language performance; (ii) the minority group of lore transmitters, i.e. the Estonian deaf community; (iii) group-centred interpretation of hearing loss.

golden marble bullet(2006). Gebärdensprachfolklore in Estland: Einblicke einer Hörenden. In: Das Zeichen 20: 74 - pp. 376-388.

golden marble bullet(2004). Isikumärkide süsteemist eesti viipekeeles. [Über das System der Zeichen für Personennamen in der estnischen Zeichensprache]. In: Keel ja Kirjandus (KjK) 47: 3 - pp. 201-208.

golden marble bullet(2002). Isiku- ja kohamärgid Eesti kurtide märgipärimuses. [Name Signs for persons and places in Estonian Deaf Folklore]. In: Oras, Janika (ed): Mall Hiiemäe. Kanni Labi. Lemmeleht. Pro folkloristica IX. Tartu : Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum - pp. 154-167.

Paavel, V. The deaf community in Soviet Estonia.

Toom, R. Estonian Sign Language yesterday, today, tomorrow. In: Erting, Carol J. et al (eds): The deaf way : perspectives from the International Conference on Deaf Culture. Washington, DC : Gallaudet Univ. Press (1994) - pp. 379-381

Eesti viipekeel (Estonian Sign Language) dictionaries

International bibliography of sign language - Estonian Sign Language dictionary.

Toom, K.

golden marble bullet(1990). Abimaterjale eesti viipekeele omandamiseks. [Guidelines for the learners of Estonian Sign Language]. Tartu - 48 p.

golden marble bullet(1988). Kõnelevad Käed. Eesti viipekeele sõnastik. 381 signs with an English translation.

Interpreter education

Tartu Ülikool. artu Ülikool Haridusteaduskond. This lists "Estonian Sign Language interpreter".

Interpreter registration

Kutsekoda.American & UK flags,Estonian flag,Russian Federation flag The Estonian Qualification Authority (trademark - Kutsekoda) was established in August 2001 in order to continue developing the professional qualifications system launched by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1997. The Professions Chamber was established by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Estonian Employers' Confederation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonian Employees' Unions' Confederation (TALO) and the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions. In addition to the founders of the Professions Chamber, the Supervisory Board of the Professions Chamber includes a representative of the Ministry of Education.

Interpreting agencies and organizations

Eesti Viipekeel Tõlkide Ühing - Estonian Association of Sign Language Interpreters.American & UK flags,Estonian flag

Estonian Association of Translators and Interpreters.Danish flag,German flag,Estonian flag,American & UK flags,French flag,Italian flag,Dutch flag,Russian Federation flag,Finnish flag,Swedish flag

Notation systems (written and visual representations of Sign Languages)

Trükmann, M.; Toom, R.; Hollman, L. Eesti viipekeele transkriptsioonist. Estonian Sign Language Transcription, Estonian Papers in Applied Linguistics (2/2006), 285-302. Summary: Estonian Sign Language (ESL) is the native language for approximately 1,500 Estonian Deaf people. Like other sign languages, ESL has no written form. In the history of ESL research, different transcription systems have been used. The system introduced here is based on the one used at the University of Tartu. The structure of the transcription system follows the example of W. Stokoe’s notation system and its expansions. Cherems of Estonian Sign Language are introduced and symbols for 38 hand forms, 26 locations, and 26 different movements are presented. All symbols are easy to use with any computer program. For the detailed transcription of the signs, the symbols for the palm and finger orientation as well as the relationship between the two hands are given. Finally there is provided an overview of the sign language glossing rules which are used in different sign language researches and which form a basis for glossing sign language grammar and semantics.

Organizations

Eesti Kurtide Liit.United Kingdom flag,Estonian flag

Eesti Kurtide Noorte Organisatsioon - Estonian Deaf Organization for Youth.

Religion & Deafness

Eesti Kristlik Nelipühi Kirik :: Worldwide Assemblies of God Deaf Conference in Tallinn.

Eesti Kristliku Nelipühi Kiriku Tallinna Kurtide Kogudus. Ühel mehel said talvel küttepuud otsa ning ta läks metsa kütet otsima. Metsa minnes leidis ta puu, mis näis kuivanud ning saagis selle maha. Kuid kevadel, tema üllatuseks, kasvasid uued võrsed sellest vanast kuivanud kännust. Ta mõtles siis: „Ma olin ju kindel, et see puu oli juba kuivanud, kuid nüüd ma näen, et selles kuivanud puus oli varjul elu, mida ma enne ei näinud.“

Home