ASL for infants

[Adam Schembri, Deaf Studies]

> "All three researchers advocate teaching signing as a way to learn
> babies'
> needs and
> wants -- whether food, play or a diaper change -- before they start to
> speak, typically
> during their second year."
> <<<<<

What do others on SLLING-L think of this claim? Is there much
evidence for it? Or does it rest on the assumption that sign
languages are easier for children to understand and acquire than
speech? Is it in fact inspired by earlier research which seemed to
suggest a sign advantage in language acquisition (i.e. that the
first signs appear earlier than the first words), research which has
since been questioned by others in the field?

----------------------
Adam Schembri
Lecturer (Sign Linguistics)
Centre for Deaf Studies
University of Bristol
8 Woodland Rd
Bristol BS8 1TN
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)117 954 6909
Textphone: +44 (0)117 954 6920
Fax: +44 (0)117 954 6921
Email: Adam.Schembri at bristol.ac.uk
Website: www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/DeafStudies