Erika Raniolo

Erika Raniolo is a Contract Professor of Glottology and Linguistics at the University of Catania's Special Teaching Structure of Ragusa. She holds a permanent position as Tenured French Language Teacher (AA24) at the G. Curcio Higher Education Institute in Ispica since the 2024/2025 academic year. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Literary, Philological-Linguistic, and Historical-Philosophical Studies (University of Palermo, 2021) and advanced degrees in European and Non-European Languages (Catania, 2013) and Comparative Studies (Catania, 2011).

• Education:
  • PhD in Literary, Philological-Linguistic, and Historical-Philosophical Studies (2021, University of Palermo)
  • Master's in European and Non-European Languages and Cultures (2013, University of Catania)
  • Bachelor's in Comparative Studies (2011, University of Catania)

Research Interests center on poetic translation between sign and spoken languages, onomastics in signed languages, labializations in LIS, and teaching vocal languages to deaf individuals. She explores multimodal communication and sensory linguistic competence through comparative analysis of LIS (Italian Sign Language) and LSF (French Sign Language).

Publications demonstrate expertise in: translating poetry through embodied perspectives; tactile sign language (LISt) for deafblind education; name signs in LIS; labialization studies; medical communication between deaf and hearing people; and pandemic-era sign language translation. Her work spans journal articles, book chapters, and a monograph on sign language poetry.

• Key Conferences:
  • 2024: Accessibility and Cultural Heritage (Catania)
  • 2023: Alterity in Poetry (Catania); Vertical Curriculum in English (Torino)
  • 2022: LIS/LSF Comparative Study (Palermo); Tactile LIS (Catania)

Professional Contributions include a Research Grant (2022/2023) on LIS/LSF in Sicilian cultural heritage, teaching LIS and French at the University of Catania for 5 consecutive academic years, and collaborative work with institutions like CNRS Paris, Université d'Ottawa, and BAICR Cultura della Relazione. She serves as a certified LIS interpreter (ANIMU #293) and holds advanced language certifications in French (C2), English (C1), German (B1), and Spanish (B1).