Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search

School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences

You are here Staff

Mr. Patrick Matthews
Assistant Professor in Deaf Studies, C.L.C.S.
Assistant Professor in Deaf Studies, Centre for Deaf Studies

Biography

Patrick Matthews is an Assistant Professor in Deaf Studies and Bachelor in Deaf Studies Co-ordinator. Prof. Lorraine Leeson and Mr. Matthews were the first members of staff in the CDS when the Centre was originally set up in 2001. Mr. Matthews developed the curriculum for the following modules; ISL (Irish Sign Language), Perspectives on Deafness, Methods of Assessment and Teaching Methods. Mr. Matthews finished is M. Litt in Applied Linguistics in 2013 on a orthography system for ISL. He has played a key role in the Irish Deaf Community over many years in promoting and teaching the language. He has extensive knowledge and experience of teaching ISL both generically and within specific domains, - to Deaf people as L1 learners and to non-deaf people as L2 learners. In recent years he has focused on the training and assessment of sign language interpreters. Mr. Matthews' research interests include the linguistics of ISL, Deaf education, Deaf community and culture, Teaching Methodolgies, Assessment Methods and a system of orthography for Irish Sign Language. Mr. Matthews is Deputy Chief Examiner for the Leaving Certificate Applied in Irish Sign Language. He was a project manager for the translation of the relevant chapters from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Report (The Ryan Report) into Irish Sign Language. He is currently the Chair for the Council of ISL Teachers. Mr. Matthews, along with Pauline Mc Mahon, created the curriculum for the Junior Cycle Short Course in ISL for the Post-Priamy Languages Initiative.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Matthews, P.A., Sheridan, S. and Leeson, L., 'Sign Language Acquisition Corpus (SLAC) - ISL', Sign Language Acquisition Corpus (SLAC), Trinity College Dublin, 2015, - Digital research resource production, 2015

Sarah Sheridan, Patrick A. Matthews and Lorraine Leeson, Uncharted Territory - Exploring L2/M2 Sign Language Acquisition using Corpus Data, IRAAL 40th Anniversary Conference, Trinity College Dublin, 21 November 2015, 2015 Conference Paper, 2015

Patrick A. Matthews, Methodological Challenges in Teaching Roleshift to Learners of Irish Sign Language (ISL) as a Second Language, 2010 Poster, 2010

Practical phonology: What learners need to know about handshapes in Irish Sign Language , 21, 2, (2005), Deaf Worlds, International Journal of Deaf Studies, [eds.] Journal, 2005

Village Life, Deaf Culture in Contemporary Ireland in, editor(s)Patrick Mc Donnell , Deaf Studies in Ireland: An Introduction, English, Douglas McLean Publishing, 2004, [Patrick A. Matthews & Susan Foley-Cave] Book Chapter, 2004

Lorraine Leeson and Patrick A. Matthews, Encouraging Signs of Progress: What we have learned about the structures of ISL, Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland, Dublin, 9-11 September 2004, 2004 Conference Paper, 2004

Language Attitude in, The Socialinguistics of Sign Languages, English, Cambridge: University Press., 2001, [Patrick A. Matthews, Sarah Burns & Evelyn Nolan-Conroy] Book Chapter, 2001

Dónall Ó Baoill & Patrick A. Matthews, The Irish Deaf Community, The Structure of ISL, Volume 2 , Dublin, Ireland, Instituid Teangeolaiochta na Eireann (The Linguistics Institute of Ireland), 2000 Book, 2000

Irish Sign language pedagogy: is there a role for culture in the framework of the post modernist era? in, editor(s)A. Chambers & D. O Baoill , Intercultural Communication and Language Learning, Dublin, Ireland, The Irish Association for Applied Linguistics, 1999, pp47 - 55, [Patrick A. Matthews] Book Chapter, 1999

Patrick A. Matthews, The functional-notional syllabus and the teaching/learning of Irish Sign Language , Teanga, 17, 1997 Journal Article, 1997

Patrick A. Matthews, Extending the Lexicon of Irish Sign Language (ISL), Teanga, 16, 1996 Journal Article, 1996

Patrick A. Matthews, The Irish Deaf Community, survey report, history of education, language and culture, Volume 1, Dublin, Ireland, Instituid Teangeolaiochta na Eireann (The Linguistics Institute of Ireland), 1996 Book, 1996

Patrick A. Matthews, Issues in Ireland for the Deaf Community: An Insight from a Deaf Person's Perspective, Teangeolas Journal of the Linguistics Institute of Ireland, 35, 1995 Journal Article, 1995

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Patrick A. Matthews, Altering Perspectives on Deafness in the Medical Setting, University College Dublin, January, 2018, UCD Invited Talk, 2018

Patrick A. Matthews, Irish Sign Language and Deaf Culture Awareness, M.Sc in Disability Studies, October , 2017, UCD Invited Talk, 2017

Patrick A. Matthews, Working with Deaf People and ISL Interpreters, DIT Linen Hall, November , 2016, DIT Bolton Street Invited Talk, 2016

Patrick A. Matthews, Breaking the code: Investigations into a Sign Writing System for Irish Sign Language , 2013 Thesis, 2013

Pauline Mc Mahon & Patrick A. Matthews, Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Executive Summary, St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys, St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls, Mary Immaculate School for Deaf Children., 1, Dublin Ireland, Deaf Communications, 2010 Book, 2010

Patrick A. Matthews & Pauline Mc Mahon, The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Irish Sign Language Version, St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys. (DVD), Dublin Ireland, Deaf Communications, June, 2010 Report, 2010

Patrick A. Matthews & Pauline Mc Mahon, The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Irish Sign Language Version, St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls (DVD), Dublin Ireland, Deaf Communications, June , 2010 Report, 2010

Patrick A. Matthews & Pauline Mc Mahon, The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Irish Sign Language Version, Mary Immaculate School for Deaf Children. (DVD). , Dublin Ireland, Deaf Communications, June, 2010 Report, 2010

Patrick A. Matthews & Pauline Mc Mahon, The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Irish Sign Language Version, Executive Summary. (DVD)., Dublin Ireland, Deaf Communications, June, 2010 Report, 2010

Patrick A. Matthews, Irish Sign Language Communication, Unit 1 & 2 Introductions and Personal Information, Unit 2 Getting Acquainted/Classroom Objects plus DVD , Dublin, Ireland, Deaf Communications Ltd, 2010 Book, 2010

Patrick A. Matthews & Pauline Mc Mahon, Irish Sign Language Anatomy/Diseases accompanied by a DVD, Serial 1, Dublin, Ireland, Deaf Communications Ltd, 2009 Book, 2009

Patrick A. Matthews(ed.), 4th International Deaf Academics and Researchers Conference, Development of sign writing: how it can benefit the Deaf Communities , Trinity College Dublin, 25 - 27th June 2008, 2008 Proceedings of a Conference, 2008

Patrick A. Matthews, Qualification and Requirements for Becoming an ISL Assessor and Factor that may lead to student failure , 2007 Working Paper, 2007

Patrick A. Matthews, Signing Picture Sequence Stories in ISL (Intermediate and Advanced) (Booklet and DVD) , Dublin, Ireland, Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin, 2006 Book, 2006

Patrick A. Matthews, Around the House, Placement and 2D Tracing in Irish Sign Language (ISL) (Booklet and DVD) , Dublin, Ireland, Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin, 2006 Book, 2006

Lorraine Leeson, Patrick A. MAtthews, Alvean Jones, Carmel Grehan, Susan Foley-Cave and Ellen Lennon-Bowman, Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland, September 9-11, 2004, In:Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland, 2005, Trinity College Dublin, Douglas McLean, (2), 21, Deaf Worlds: International Journal of Deaf Studies, 1-S104 Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2005

Lorraine Leeson & Patrick A. Matthews, Submission to the Advisory Committee on Deaf Education from the Centre for Deaf Studie, 2002 Working Paper, 2002

Patrick A. Matthews & Evelyn Nolan-Conroy, Postmodernism and the education of the Deaf , Teanga, 17, 1997 Journal Article, 1997

Patrick A. Matthews, Language and Community in the Education of the Deaf, Trinity College Dublin, 1997 Thesis, 1997

Research Expertise

Description

Linguistics of ISL, Translation and Interpreting, Deaf Culture, Pedagogy and Assessment Methods, Deaf Education, the Deaf community and the practical use of a system of orthography for Irish Sign Language.

Projects

  • Title
    • Sign Language Acquisition Corpus (SLAC) - Irish Sign language (ISL)
  • Summary
    • Sign Language Acquisition Corpus (SLAC) - Irish Sign language (ISL) The corpus is currently in annotation phase. When marked up, some elements will be share-able with other researchers, with permission from the corpus participants.
  • Funding Agency
    • Non Funding
  • Date From
    • 2015
  • Title
    • ISL Materials Project
  • Summary
    • The producing and recording of ISL materials. Areas of responsibility included the overseeing of all aspects of the Project and its day-to-day management. Planning the schedule and designing the structure from which all staff could work as a team
  • Funding Agency
    • Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College
  • Date From
    • 2005
  • Date To
    • 2006
  • Title
    • Irish Sign Language National Survey & Research Project
  • Summary
    • Areas of responsibility included the overseeing of all aspects of the Project and its day-to-day management. Planning the schedule and designing the structure from which all staff could work as a team. I also travelled the country doing PR work for the Project. This included giving lectures on ISL, Deaf issues, etc. Whilst carrying out the Project, I also conducted Research, principally of the survey/census type and on the linguistics of Irish Sign Language.
  • Funding Agency
    • Instituid Teangeolaiochta na Eireann (The Linguistics Institute of Ireland)
  • Date From
    • 1993
  • Date To
    • 1997

Keywords

Assessment; Curriculum ; Deaf Community and Culture; Deaf Education; Development of ISL Materials; First and Second Language Acquisition ; Interculturalsim ; Irish Sign Language Writing System; Linguistics of ISL; Pedagogy; Translation

Recognition

Representations

Chair for The Council of Irish Sign Language Teachers. 2018

On the Panel for Evaluating ISL translators for the National Broadcasting Agency, RTE for Deaf News. 2016

Examination and Curriculum Coordinator for ISL Academy committee for QQI 2013-2016

Committee of the Deaf Academics conference 2008, Trinity College Dublin 2007 - 2008

Member of the Centre for Deaf Studies Management Committee 2001 - present

Course Director for the Diploma in Irish Sign Language Teaching programme. 2002 - 2010

Chairperson for Sign Language Association of Ireland 1985-1991

Examinations Co-ordinator for Sign Language Association of Ireland 1991-1993

Founder Member of the Irish Sign Language Teacher's Association (now known as Sign Language Association of Ireland) 1985

Management Committee for 'Sign on Book' published by DeafHear & Sign Language Association of Ireland 1991-1992

On Accreditation Panel for Registry of ISL/English Sign Language Interpreters 1995-1996

Member of the IrishSign Link ISL/English Accreditation Registry Panel 2001-2002

Advisory Syllabus Committee for Extra Mural Studies in Communication Skills with Deaf People 1988-1989

Consultant advisor for the development stages of a Deaf Studies Programme in Queen's University Belfast 1999-2000

Memberships

The Council of Irish Sign Language Teachers 2018 – present

Irish Association of Applied Linguistics (IRAAL)

Irish Sign Language (ISL) Academy - ISL Teacher 2006 – 2015

Irish Deaf Society 1990's – present

Sign Language Linguistics Society – present