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<DIV>In a message dated 2/20/2004 4:16:24 AM Eastern Standard Time, mamandel@LDC.UPENN.EDU writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>From previous posts in this thread, I thought the objection was not "It<BR>isn't a language", but rather "It isn't foreign". If that *is* in fact<BR>the (stated) grounds of opposition, arguing "It *is* a language" will<BR>not be useful.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#004080>Actually, if my "take" on the issue is right, the biggest deterrent is job security. You know :) ... Latin was replaced by German in the late 1800's early 1900's. German was superceeded by French in WWI. Spanish became "king" in the late 40's early 50's. Now sign language, with argue-ably inadequate preparation on the part of some instructors -- is trying nudge in.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#004080>The majority of teachers I talk with -- one on one-- have nothing but respect for another colleague. A small minority are rather surprised to find ASL is NOT English. An even smaller minority are dead-set against it -- for whatever reason -- and EXTREMELY vocal :6</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#004080>When ballot votes happen (what EVER organization or group), I think many are genuinely relieved to have "tabled" the issue for another group.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#004080>It's one of those dreadful "time heals all" situations that we all HATE waitng on :)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>