Volume 8 of the Sociolinguistics in Deaf Communities series continues the tradition of the series with a collection of papers ranging in topics from variation in fingerspelling and the outcomes of ASL-English contact to the structure of sign language discourse, turn-taking strategies, and language attitudes. With studies in this volume from the United States, Belgium, and Spain, the series continues to show us the wide range of sociolinguistic issues that arise in Deaf communities around the world. It is my hope that the studies in this volume and, indeed, in this whole series will provide a useful resource for researchers, practitioners, and community members.
I am grateful to the contributors to this volume and to the members of the editorial advisory board for their work in putting this book together. I also gratefully acknowledge Ivey Pittle Wallace, the assistant editorial director, Deirdre Mullervy, managing editor, and Mary Gawlik, copy editor, at Gallaudet University Press for their support, hard work, and good humor.