Deaf opposition to SW

[eyasu tamene]

Dear Adam Frost
 
It is realy a controversical idea that comes to my mind everytime- Use of Sign Writing. I think it is more better to know the effect (either posetive or negative) of Sign Writing in places whre it is used as a Medium of Instruction. Isn't is? But in places like my country Ethiopia, where the sign writing has not been reached, it is very hard to guess its acceptance. But I can guess, most people are ready for a change, having thier own writing system, sign written text books it is interesting. 
I don't know about yours bur mine is there must be done a Sociolinguistic Research after they become the useres of Sign Writing. What do you suggest?
 
Eyasu 

 

 


Valerie Sutton <sutton at SignWriting.org> wrote:
SignWriting List
July 20, 2005

On Jul 20, 2005, at 10:42 AM, Adam Frost wrote:
I have actually done a research on this topic for a paper in school. 
I found that most Deaf didn't like the idea of SW not mainly because 
they feel that it can't capture the full aspect of the language 
(although it is a strong argument that some have), but that SW would 
cause hearing people to have a lessened view of ASL as a language, 
and it would also separate Deaf from hearing people even more. I 
personally don't agree with any of that (of course, or I wouldn't be 
here now would I. LOL!)
-----------------

Adam and Everyone -

They are talking out of ignorance, Adam! I believe it is a weak 
argument. They obviously have not tried to learn SignWriting, and 
they are against the new idea, without really learning it first. We 
can write sooo much detail and capture the nuances of ASL far more 
than either the IPA or written English captures spoken English...and 
we are not hurting ASL to write it, only enhancing it...

The only criticism that I care about, are from those people who 
really have taken the time to learn and use SignWriting - your 
opinions matter because you know what you are talking about...but 
anyone can criticize something they do not know, to avoid having to 
take the trouble of learning it...There are still people who talk 
against using computers, afterall, and it has been decades since 
computers have come into everyday life here -

And I know some smokers, who still argue there is no proof that it 
can hurt your health...so some people do not like change and they are 
afraid of it...

An article to read about this issue...

http://signwriting.org/about/questions/quest021.html


Val ;-)


		
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