and and sign language

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for your response. I agree with some of your

points, many of which really had nothing to do with

the fairly narrow point I was making. I think I

somewhat clarified my position on ASL versus oral

language in the world of work (in the second email I

sent, my reply to ). In the end, we will probably

have to agree that we are not all going to see eye to

eye on this rather broad issue.

, when I said I wondered if I was going to be

sorry for making a comment about the things I saw here

about ASL, I was making a joke. Whenever something

gets started on this forum, at least 100 replies make

their way across the internet as a result. Please

don't assume I'm being hostile.

Deb

--- <bleedingpurist@...> wrote:

> Actually Deb, everyone in America ought to learn at

> least one other spoken language just as those in

> other countries do. It's an embarassment that we

> don't do this.

>

> However, 's reply to you sums it up. That is

> reality. Let's not forget that those who are

> ASL-only users tend to be very poor in their written

> language ability (read: lack thereof)....sorry but

> this IS an indication of inferiority when you cannot

> write with proper grammar in ANY language and it

> won't get you a job. There is no excuse for this.

> I have a friend who is prelingual and completely

> deaf with perfect written language skills and full

> ASL ability. This is how it should be at a minimum.

> Anything less is only further handicapping the

> situation. Excusing it and allowing one to go on

> without the ability to use a language other than ASL

> to communicate is irresponsible. It is detrimental

> to them. They need to be able to cope with the real

> world. Instead we have scores on SSI or other types

> of welfare. Those who are lucky generally work in a

> Deaf-related field such as Deaf education.

>

> You can go on all you want about how it's the rest

> of the world that needs to change...but good luck!

> Deafness is an affliction and a handicap. Having

> ASL as the only means of language is no better than

> being illiterate. You can put candy sprinkles on

> doggy doo but it's still doggy doo. Calling it

> linguistic superiority or oralism demonstrates an

> inability to grasp the issue. I've grasped it and I

> won't ignore the reality because I feel content to

> pat them on the head and say " it's ok, you're deaf. "

> My approach is " You're deaf and you're going to

> have to bust your ass to make it in this world..it's

> not a deaf world and anyone telling you otherwise

> isn't doing you any favors. Give yourself the keys

> to the world because there are those who would keep

> them from you in the name of celebrating your

> deafness. "

>

> It's not just the professional world that remains

> out of their grasp...it's the world...period.

>

>

> sign language

>

>

> I see that some here are promoting the concept of

> deafness as " scourge " , suggesting that it will be

> a

> fine day when ASL vanishes from the face of earth

> because it will mean that humans no longer need

> it.

> I feel I must say that this has overtones of

> lingual

> superiority and is not unlike those who argue

> nowadays

> that everyone ought to just speak english in

> america

> because that is the common language...etc.

>

> Not only will it be a long day coming before every

> human can have their deafness rectified by some

> technological advance or other, it is a narrow

> view of

> human experience to suggest that those who use ASL

> as

> their primary (even only) means of communication

> are

> in denial about who or what they are.

>

> Sign language is NOT inferior to oral

> communication.

> It has its strengths and weaknesses when measured

> up

> again the spoken language. I'm not even interested

> in

> the pro/con deaf CI wars. I am disturbed by the

> severe

> tone that I hear from time to time from one who is

> deaf or hoh regarding the use and value of sign

> language. I felt strongly enough to want to share

> my

> thoughts on this issue.

>

> Deb

> post lingual deaf, CI activated 9/05

>

> __________________________________________________

>