ASL for infants

[Angus B. Grieve-Smith]

        I think that one way we as linguists can hopefully turn this to
good is by reinforcing the position of Deaf people as experts in signed
languages.

        When hearing parents tell me they want to sign with their
hearing kids, I usually suggest they hire a Deaf babysitter.  And when a
kindergarten teacher told me that she wanted to teach her students some
signs, I suggested she contact COPD, a local Deaf community program, to
arrange for a Deaf person to present something to her class.

        I don't know if anyone's ever followed through on my suggestions,
but if anyone should be getting money and exposure from signed languages
it should be Deaf people.

--
                                -Angus B. Grieve-Smith
                                Linguistics Department
                                University of New Mexico
                                grvsmth at unm.edu