use of sign language in Jordan

[Steve Slevinski]

Albert Bickford wrote:
> Technically, SignWriting would be classified as a featural writing 
> system, like Korean Hangeul (sic?), not an alphabet.  

Hi Albert Bickford,

I've read that Korean Hangul has a featural script, also called a 
featural linear alphabet.  I'd say that SignWriting has a featural 
hierarchical alphabet.

Please explain why you don't consider SignWriting to be an alphabet.  It 
you want to use the term "featural hierarchical alphabet", that's fine.  
But as far as I know, there is no reason not to call the SignWriting 
symbols an alphabet.

The alphabet is an idea based in literacy that started in Ancient Egypt. 
Alphabet means "alpha, beta".  It means ordered symbols for writing.  
Most of our language terms are biased towards hearing because the 
language center of the brain for hearing people is wired to the ear.  
Modern day brain scans show that Deaf have their language centers wired 
to their eyes, rather than their ears.

Words mean things.  Literacy means the ability to read and write.  
Literacy does not mean watching a video, listening to an audio tape, or 
knowing history.  Real literacy (reading and writing) changes the 
quality of the brain.  Real literacy is the result of this study.

I hope we all realize that our terms are confused.  Many language terms 
are biased towards language as spoken. 

These are laymen statements.  Not universal statements, but they are true.
"A language can be spoken or signed. 
"An alphabet is an ordered list of symbols for writing."
"Literacy is the ability to read and write language using a defined 
alphabet."
"Literacy improves the quality of the brain."
"If you are literate in a language, you should be able to write using 
paper and pencil."

I know an expert can tear apart each and every statement above by adding 
specialized terms and special qualifications.  But there is an essence 
of truth that applies to the above 5 statements that can not be denied.

Sorry for a layman interruption,
-Steve
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