Article on Historical Sign and Deaf People

[Karlin, Ben]

An intentional play on the common origin of the words "jester" and
"gesture".

Interestingly, the article points out that while "persons of limited
stature" were often regarded as court fools and buffons in the Ottomon
courts, Deaf men were of special status and a formal sign language passed
into the highest levels of the court.  The article points out that there is
too little contemporary info on the status of Deaf women.

Ben
 ----------
> From: Mark_Mandel at Dragonsys.com
> To: For the discussion of linguistics and signed languages.
> Cc: Karlin, Ben
> Subject: Re: Article on Historical Sign and Deaf People
> Date: Tuesday, 11 April, 2000 1:12PM
>
> Ben Karlin writes:
>
> >>>
> Miles, M.  "Signing in the Seraglio: mutes, dwarfs and jestures at the
> Ottomon Court 1500-1700."  Disability & Society, Vol 15, No 1, 2000, pp
> 115-134.
> <<<
>
> Is "jestures" an intentional pun or neologism, or a slip of the fingers
for
> "jesters" (which would make sense along with dwarfs at court) or
"gestures"?
>
>  -- Mark A. Mandel
>
>