Welcome to AISAC
Your Connection to the World's Cued Languages
The mission of the Académie Internationale Soutenant les Adaptations du «Cued» (AISAC) is to make every spoken language a visual language. We believe language is a fundamental human right. People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing deserve access to the full inventory of the world's languages through signing and cueing – not just through text.
The Role of the International Academy
AISAC (pronounced 'Isaac') oversees the adaptations of Cued Speech to the world's languages. Our mission is to make every language visual. Our aims are to: (1) Update and publish charts; (2) Incorporate the International Phonetic Alphabet; (3) Centralize access to materials; (4) Review and certify new adaptations to ensure compliance with Cornett's principles; (5) Publish guidelines and support the adaptation of cueing to new languages; (6) Survey and track cueing use worldwide. We review existing adaptations to ensure that the language is faithfully conveyed and unambiguous.
Making Language Visual
Unlocking the World's Languages
The modality of signing provides clear and unambiguous visual access to the world's signed languages. The modality of cueing provides the same level of visual access to deaf and hard-of-hearing people for languages that have historically been considered spoken. Through cueing, English, French, Mandarin, and Russian become visual, manual languages.
Fostering Home Languages
When provided clear, unambiguous access, children acquire language naturally in the home through everyday interaction with native users. For people whose native language has traditionally been spoken, cueing allows parents to communicate clearly with their deaf child – making the language of the home visual.
Tracking Use Worldwide
Connecting and Sharing
The Académie works with national cueing organizations to identify and track cueing use worldwide. Our aim is to connect cuers and foster supportive collaboration between communities.
Protecting Signed Languages
Understanding the Importance of Modality
Historically, efforts have been made to represent spoken languages through signs. These attempts have had various levels of success, but do not get to the phonological level of the spoken language and abandon the grammar of the signed language. It is essential to understand the difference between a language (e.g., American Sign Language, French, English, Ethiopian Sign Language) and modality (e.g., signing, cueing, speaking). One aim of AISAC is to preserve the integrity of signed languages by encouraging the use of the appropriate modality for each language. The world's signed languages are visually (and tactually) accessible through signing. The world's historically-spoken languages are visually (and tactually) accessible through cueing.
Standardizing and Publishing
For decades, cuers relied on the original hand-drawn charts to learn a new cueing system. The Académie is updating existing charts to create consistency in phonemic representation by incorporating the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). In cases, where multiple versions of an adaptation exist, the Académie consolidates them for consistency and maximal efficacy.
Broadening Reach and Increasing Access
The Académie provides a central web-based source for charts and resources for the adaptations of Cued Speech. These materials are freely available to public. Our digital archives offer an unprecedented historical glimpse into Cornett's notes and early drafts.
Enhancing Foreign Language Instruction
Language is a fundamental human right. While the debate continues over which languages are appropriate for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, no specific language is ever innate. The rich diversity of the world's languages, signed or spoken, should be made available to to everyone through a clear, unambiguous accessible modality. Toward this ideal, it is the of the Académie to ensure full access to the world languages among deaf and har-of-hearing individuals.
What Does it Take to Make a Language Visual?
Adapting cueing to a spoken language requires a deep understanding of the interface between phonetics and phonology. Additionally, it's essential to follow the principles of cueing design defined by its inventor, Dr. R. Orin Cornett. The Académie has assembled an international group of cuers with linguistics training to support new adaptations of cueing to spoken languages. Supplemental guidelines were established to assist in prioritization of objectives. Those who wish to work on a new adaptation or to request one should contact AISAC.