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<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2>As a profoundly deaf person who is a fluent
user of BSL (I also speak very well I must admit), I am quite fascinated by
linguists' use of two entirely different terms to mean the same thing "signed
language" and "sign language".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2>From a deaf persons' perspective, these
meanings are different to us. To us, "signed language" refer to signing the
language. For example, signed English, signed German, signed Polish, etc. Where
we recognise "sign language" to mean the native sign language, for example ASL,
BSL, FSL, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2>Interesting, but it would be nice to clear
up the slight confusion it would cause among deaf people!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2>Raymond Lee</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" size=2>Head of Research &
Publications<BR>British Deaf History Society<BR>UK.<BR><BR></FONT><A
href="mailto:Philocophus@philocophus.demon.co.uk"><FONT face="Lucida Sans"
size=2>Philocophus@philocophus.demon.co.uk</FONT></A><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>