AW: [sw-l] UK: SignWriting Used in Two New Studies

[Trevor Jenkins]

On Thu, 21 Oct 2004, Stefan Woehrmann <stefanwoehrmann at GEBAERDENSCHRIFT.DE> asks me for clarification:

> aha - I am curious - what did he (I assume an important person in the field
> of SL - research ??? ) say?
>
> "Stacey did you watch See Hear this week especially the interview with
> Jonathan Rée? "Interesting" is all I'll say in public."

Jonathan Rée has written a very good book on the history of Deaf education
("I see a voice"). He recently spoke at a convention of BSL users and made
controversial statements about "Deaf nationalism". Rée was interviewed
during this week's edition of See Hear the BBC's programme dedicated to
Deaf people where he repeated those views. In several places he
contradicted his own arguments both supporting the campaign for
recognition of BSL as a cultural minority language (on a par with Welsh)
and then saying that any sense of Deafhood was undesireable.

If you can get to see a recording of the interview (conducted by Jeff
McWhinney) it is worth watching just to see the reaction of McWhinney and
the (hearing) BSL interpreter to the points raised. Rée does not sign, at
least he did not do so during hte interview.

Rée is a philospher and author. His researchs into Deaf education are
unbiased. It remains to be seen whether history will consider his
recent comments similarly unbiased.

The reason for mentioning him in response to Stacey Busek's posting was
his avowed support for writing down signed language communication. It is
very clear he holds a higher view of written discourse than signed
discourse. For all his historical research it is still a very superior
hearing attitude.

Regards, Trevor

<>< Re: deemed!