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<DIV class=detailheadlinestyle>The following article published last year gives
some insight that, at least on the surface, the wrangling centers around the use
and spirit of the word "foreign." </DIV>
<DIV class=detailheadlinestyle> </DIV>
<DIV class=detailheadlinestyle>Danny Roush</DIV>
<DIV class=detailheadlinestyle> </DIV>
<DIV class=detailheadlinestyle>American Sign Language a possible foreign
language</DIV>
<DIV class=byline>By Christine Dellert</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published:
<A style="COLOR: #666666; TEXT-DECORATION: none"
href="http://www.ucffuture.com/main.cfm/include/displayIssueArticles/issue_date/20030130.html">Thursday,
January 30, 2003 </A></DIV><SPAN class=storytextstyle><FONT size=1>Recognized in
the United States by the early 19th century, American Sign Language is not as
old as its predecessors -- English, Spanish, French or German -- yet it is now
gaining an equal amount of use and familiarity in this country.<BR><BR>As ASL
becomes the third most popular language in America, educational institutions
debate whether or not it is considered a true foreign language and whether it
should meet the graduation requirements in foreign language studies at both high
schools and colleges.<BR><BR>In 1991, the Florida Legislature declared that two
years of high school ASL instruction could fulfill the required two years of
foreign language for graduation. Within each state university, it is the job of
the Faculty Senate and director of the foreign language department to set
guidelines for foreign language requirements to fulfill graduation standards.
<BR><BR>UCF's Faculty Senate voted against the first proposal requesting that
ASL qualify as foreign language fulfillment for university graduation in October
1987. The issue was revisited earlier this month and turned over for review by a
subcommittee. <BR><BR>"This question of ASL is brought up every several years,"
said Faculty Senate President Mike Mullens. "However, American Sign Language is
not in the spirit of what the faculty considers being a foreign
language."<BR><BR>Like UCF, the University of Tampa and Florida Southern College
do not include ASL in the foreign language department. However, the University
of Florida, University of South Florida and Florida State University recognize
ASL instruction for foreign-language credits. <BR><BR>UCF's mission is different
from that of other schools, foreign languages associate professor Karl-Heinrich
Barsch argues. "The university places an international focus on programs and
curriculum," he said. "ASL teaches about a different subculture in our country;
it does not take us out of the [American] world."<BR><BR>Learning Disabilities
Coordinator and ASL interpreter Deborah Kamm claims that in many other
university institutions ASL does meet all the criteria for a cultural linguistic
study. "Deaf culture is thought of more as a disability, not a separate culture
-- but it is," she said.<BR><BR>Dennis Buck, deaf adjunct instructor for
communication disorders, does not understand why ASL is not considered a foreign
language. With 28 million deaf Americans, students will benefit from learning
their language and respecting their culture, he said.<BR><BR>Barsch does not
deny the importance of learning ASL in the United States, however he does not
see it as a substitute to an international language. All countries have their
own different sign languages, he said.<BR><BR>ASL professor and interpreter Pam
Rea believes that instruction in ASL can be applied outside of the United States
in countries such as Canada and Mexico. <BR><BR>Rea also argues that foreign
languages such as Spanish and French vary depending upon what region of the
world they are spoken. "In French there are different variations of the language
-- Creole, Haitian and European -- just as there are in sign languages," she
said.<BR><BR>This month's renewed debate of ASL does not question its existence
as a separate language, but its application in a globalized world, said Barsch.
<BR><BR>The Undergrad Program Curriculum Committee will report back to the
Faculty Senate after reviewing arguments of both departments.<BR><BR>UCF
currently offers four ASL electives: SPA 4612, SPA 4613, SPA 4614C and SPA 4617.
</FONT></SPAN><BR>
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<BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>From:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.ucfnews.com/news/2003/01/30/Lifestyles/American.Sign.Language.A.Possible.Foreign.Language-354656.shtml">http://www.ucfnews.com/news/2003/01/30/Lifestyles/American.Sign.Language.A.Possible.Foreign.Language-354656.shtml</A></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dparvaz@MAC.COM href="mailto:dparvaz@MAC.COM">Dan Parvaz</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=SLLING-L@ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA
href="mailto:SLLING-L@ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA">SLLING-L@ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 19, 2004 3:25
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Florida: Calling All Deaf
Advocates!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>>From the UCF undergraduate handbook:<BR><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?bigger><?bigger><?bigger><?x-tad-bigger><BR><?/x-tad-bigger><?/bigger><?/bigger><?/bigger><?/fontfamily><B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?color><?param 0000,0000,8080>Foreign
Language Proficiency Requirement<BR><?/color><?/fontfamily><?color><?param 0000,0000,8080>(Bachelor
of Arts Degree)<BR><?/color></B><?color><?param 0000,0000,8080><?bigger><?bigger><?bigger><?x-tad-bigger><BR><?/x-tad-bigger><?/bigger><?/bigger><?/bigger><?/color><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?color><?param 0000,0000,8080><?x-tad-smaller>Students
graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree must demonstrate proficiency in a
foreign language equivalent to one year of college instruction. This
requirement may be met either by successful completion of the appropriate
college-level course or by examination. Languages that may be used include
those taught at UCF and any others for which the University can obtain
standardized proficiency tests. Students who have previously received a
baccalaureate degree are exempt from this requirement.<?/x-tad-smaller><?/color><?x-tad-smaller><BR><?/x-tad-smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>The
implication, at least, is that any (a) language for which (b) a standardized
test may be found (SCPI, ASL-PI, etc.) should qualify. The curricular and
political questions, as outlined by Theresa, are almost certainly where the
sticking points are.<BR><BR>The Mission of UCF, inasmuch as mission statements
mean anything, includes the following bit of highfalutin rhetoric:<BR><BR><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?color><?param 0000,0000,8080><?x-tad-smaller>The
University of Central Florida is a public, multi-campus, metropolitan research
university, dedicated to serving its surrounding communities with their
diverse and expanding populations<?/x-tad-smaller><?/color><?/fontfamily><?x-tad-smaller><BR><?/x-tad-smaller><BR>Which
leaves room to debate whether or not relegating a language used and needed by
the "surrounding communities" to second-class status helps further their
mission. As members of said communities, comments from the Deaf might be
relevant. I do not think, however, that they will be persuasive.<BR><BR>Sigh.
Once more into the breach...<BR><BR>-Dan.<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>