Marianne Rossi Stumpf is a Brazilian academic and researcher in the field of sign language studies, with a particular focus on Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), SignWriting, bilingual education and Deaf education. She is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), where she has played a central role in the development of research and teaching related to Libras, both in traditional and distance learning contexts.
Early Life and Education
Stumpf began her higher education in technology and informatics, completing a bachelor’s degree in Informatics Technology at Lutheran University of Brazil in 2000. Her interest in deaf education led her to pursue a degree in Education of the Deaf at University of Santa Cruz do Sul, which she completed in 2004[1][4].
She went on to earn a doctorate in Informatics in Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2001–2005). During her PhD studies, she spent research periods abroad at Université Paul Sabatier and Paris 8 University in France, deepening her expertise in the relationship between language, technology and education. Her doctoral dissertation examined the acquisition of writing in sign languages through the SignWriting system[1][4]. Stumpf continued to expand her academic training with postdoctoral studies. In 2013–2014, she carried out research at the Catholic University of Portugal, focusing on bilingual education and sign language literacy. More recently, between 2023 and 2024, she pursued another postdoctoral fellowship at Universität Hamburg, Germany, strengthening her international research collaborations[1][4].
Academic Career
In 2007, Stumpf joined the faculty of UFSC as an Associate Professor. The following year she became part of the university’s Graduate Program in Linguistics (PPGLin), contributing to the Letras Libras program, the pioneering degree in Libras in Brazil. She has since been responsible for teaching and supervising research in areas such as sign language writing, deaf education, new technologies, and translation and interpretation[1].
She has served as leader of the research group “Lexicon and Terminology in Libras: translation, validation and technology” and as vice-leader of the Group for Studies on SignWriting. She has also overseen projects aimed at expanding the academic vocabulary of Libras, such as the creation of an online glossary of specialized terms[1].
Research Focus
Stumpf’s research is characterized by its interdisciplinarity and practical orientation. A significant part of her work has been devoted to SignWriting, the system developed for writing sign languages. Her studies have examined phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic aspects of Libras in its written form, as well as the pedagogical implications of using writing for sign language acquisition[1][4].
Another central strand of her work is lexicography and terminology in Libras. She has contributed to the development of glossaries and academic lexicons, addressing the need for standardized terms in higher education and specialized fields. These initiatives are crucial for ensuring access and equity for deaf students in Brazil[1].
Her research also extends to bilingual education and deaf education, emphasizing Libras as the first language (L1) of the deaf and Portuguese as a second language. She has worked on curricular references and educational frameworks for Libras instruction, from early childhood education through higher education, contributing to the consolidation of bilingual models in the Brazilian educational system[1].
Legacy and Impact
Stumpf’s career has been marked by her role in legitimizing Libras as an object of research and a medium of instruction. She has bridged academic research, educational practice, and national policy, advancing the visibility and institutional recognition of sign language in Brazil. Her leadership in glossaries, curricular references and exam translations has provided concrete tools for the accessibility and inclusion of deaf students[1][3][4].
Her trajectory also reflects a broader international engagement, with collaborations in Europe and active participation in global networks dedicated to sign language research[3][4]. Through these efforts, Marianne Rossi Stumpf has established herself as one of the most prominent Brazilian scholars in the field of deaf education and sign language studies.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística (UFSC). (n.d.). Marianne Rossi Stumpf.
- UFSC – Um mundo de possibilidades. (2021, April 1). Marianne Rossi Stumpf: Professora de Libras do Centro de Comunicação e Expressão (CCE).
- Escavador. (2024, November 5). Marianne Rossi Stumpf – Academic Profile.
- Stumpf, M. R., Linhares, R. S. D. A., Pizzio, A. L., Carneiro, B. G., Cruz, C. R., Soares, C. P., ... & Oliveira, S. M. D. (2021). Referenciais para o ensino de Língua Brasileira de Sinais como primeira língua na Educação Bilíngue de Surdos: da Educação Infantil ao Ensino Superior (V. 3).
