Erin Moriarty

Dr. Erin Moriarty is a Professor and Program Director for the Graduate Program in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She holds an honorary research fellowship at Heriot-Watt University, following a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Annelies Kusters. Her work focuses on linguistic ethnography, translanguaging, deaf mobilities, and the interplay between morality and language. She has led projects such as 'MobileDeaf: Deaf mobilities across international borders' (2017-2023) and studies deaf tourism in Bali.

Her research integrates sociolinguistics, anthropology, and mobility studies to explore how deaf individuals navigate global networks, cultural boundaries, and language ideologies. She critiques rigid classifications of deaf communities and emphasizes the fluidity of linguistic practices in transnational contexts. Her projects often involve visual ethnography, such as filmmaking to document deaf tourist experiences.

Moriarty’s articles highlight themes like sign language documentation in post-conflict areas, moral orientations in mobile signers, and the politics of translanguaging. She advocates for inclusive educational approaches that respect deaf students’ bilingual needs. Her work bridges academic research with practical implications for deaf communities worldwide.

• Key Projects: MobileDeaf (2017-2023), Deaf Tourism in Bali
• Affiliations: Gallaudet University (Primary), Heriot-Watt University (Honorary)
• Expertise: Deaf mobilities, linguistic ethnography, sign language ideologies