[EDLING:571] Re: 'Sign language classes are on the rise'

[Shannon Sauro]

I find Henderson's rationale for Boston University's current policy of not
allowing ASL to fulfill its foreign language requirement, namely that it
is a North American language and does not provide access to the culture of
another society, both interesting and troublesome.

It is interesting that this policy seems to place value on learning about
language and cultures which only exist overseas.  Of course, I am assuming
that Henderson's concern about the North American roots of ASL also
applies to Spanish and French, so that the varities of Spanish and French
being taught on campus are not of the North American kind.

What is troublesome is that this policy also seems to be based on the
assumption that the society and culture of the deaf in North America is no
different from that of English-speaking/hearing society.  However, as
someone who is not a member of the deaf community, my perspective on this
is limited to the books I have read on the subject.

I would love to hear what others of you have to say on this matter and
what your universities' policies are on recognizing the study of signed
languages in fulfillment of foreign language requirements.


Shannon Sauro