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(More customer reviews)Seeing Language in Sign, by Jane Maher, held my attention to the last page. It is a true story about one of the most influencial hearing individuals in Deaf Society. William Stokoe was a true hero in his brilliance, committment and sacrifices to bring the true nature of American Sign Language to light. His story is inspiring and infuriating, as the reader learns of the obsticles placed in Stokoe's way as he strove to prove that ASL is a true language, full of all the richness and bredth of any spoken language. I was moved to tears several times and as I read the last page I wanted to meet this incredible man in person. The author wrote in such a manner that I felt as though I knew him personally. In my opinion, he deserves the Nobel Prize in Education. This book is a MUST READ for anyone who is serious about understanding ASL and Deaf Culture.
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In 1955 William C. Stokoe arrived at Gallaudet College (later Gallaudet University) to teach English where he was first exposed to deaf people signing. While most of his colleagues dismissed signing as mere mimicry of speech, Stokoe saw in it elements of a distinctive language all its own. Seeing Language in Sign traces the process that Stokoe followed to prove scientifically and unequivocally that American Sign Language (ASL) met the full criteria of linguistics--phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and use of language--to be classified a fully developed language.
This perceptive account dramatically captures the struggle Stokoe faced in persuading the establishment of the truth of his discovery. Other faculty members ridiculed or reviled him, and many deaf members of the Gallaudet community laughed at his efforts. Seeing Language in Sign rewards the reader with a rich portrayal of an undaunted advocate who, like a latter-day Galileo, pursued his vision doggedly regardless of relentless antagonism. He established the Linguistics Research Laboratory, then founded the journal Sign Language Studies to sustain an unpopular dialogue until the tide changed. His ultimate vindication corresponded with the recognition of the glorious culture and community that revolves around Deaf people and their language, ASL.
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