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<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>The tendency towards using an internal name
as an external one is not limited to Gallaudet or to sign
languages.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>There is, for example, the tendency to
borrow into ASL (and probably other sign languages) the name of a country that
is used by Deaf in that country. Thus, signs for CHINA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA,
RUSSIA, and probably others have changed or are in the process of
changing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Outside the realm of sign linguistics, it
has become increasingly common for indigenous groups and their speakers over the
past couple decades to reject names given to them by others and to
ask/insist/agitate to be called by their own name for themselves. Often,
the etymology behind the name given by outsiders is pejorative, whereas the
internal name simply means "people" or "language". So, for example, I
think of the following substitutions that have gained general acceptance in the
last couple decades, and I'm sure there are many more.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Auca > Waorani (Ecuador)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Papago > Tohono O'odham (Arizona,
USA)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Tlapanec > Me'phaa (Mexico)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Otomi > Hñahñu (Mexico, spelling varies
depending on dialect)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Tarascan > Purepecha
(Mexico)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>I don't feel that etymology determines
meaning, but I respect people's concerns and when people want themselves or
their languages referred to in certain ways, even when the reference is in
another language, I prefer to honor that. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Ultimately, it boils down to usage: the
complex social negotiation that is worked out among users of a language as to
what words they want to use. No one can regulate this, no matter how they
try. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Albert</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@gmail.com href="mailto:dparvaz@gmail.com">Dan Parvaz</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=slling-l@majordomo.valenciacc.edu
href="mailto:slling-l@majordomo.valenciacc.edu">A list for linguists
interested in signed languages</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> September 5, 2007 11:58 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [SLLING-L] SL and other
codes: in passing: Russian</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2></FONT><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>Hm. And Arabic "Namsa" means Austria. But doesn't the
original point remain? Namely, that No one is bound by the internal name for a
language/country/whatever. Using the autochthonous sign for a country seems to
be an American -- and specifically, a Gallaudetian -- PC obsession.
<BR><BR>-Dan.<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>