UK Deaf leader argues for video technology

Thu Oct 19 19:51:43 UTC 2006

SignWriting List
October 19, 2006

Actually no University backs any one theory of education one hundred  
per cent. The purpose of a University is to provide a place for many  
different kinds of thinking so they can stand side by side, and that  
all the issues can be discussed. Gallaudet as a whole will never back  
any one system...they technically do not back ASL...they have other  
ways of communicating on campus too...and the Stokoe system is not  
used that much at Gallaudet...for example in the LInguistic dept they  
use the Scott LIddell system a lot for linguistic notations...and  
when Dr. Stokoe was alive, there were people against him at Gallaudet  
because there were other ways to look at it all...and there are  
people using SignWriting at Gallaudet right now...so there will never  
be an institutioinal backing of any writing system at Gallaudet...but  
SignWriting is used there anyway!

Val ;-)

On Oct 19, 2006, at 12:33 PM, Shane Gilchrist O hEorpa wrote:

> Stuart is right - Gallaudet is loyal to Stokoe, thinking that SW is
> another notation system (which it ISN'T!)
>
> once we slip SW into Gallaudet, it will change - unfair i know...but
> we will get there eventually.
>
> Where are you based, Stuart?
>
> Shane
>
> On 19/10/06, Stuart Thiessen <sw at passitonservices.org> wrote:
>> Here, the local teacher (hearing) said that he would not even  
>> consider
>> use of SignWriting until Deaf people use it. I told him, "2 Deaf  
>> people
>> are right now telling you it is a good idea!!!  ;-)"  Really, what he
>> means is until NAD or Gallaudet or some formal group adopts  
>> SignWriting
>> as a writing system for ASL, he won't consider it.
>>
>> But I agree with Valerie. First time, they may be resistant or
>> hesitant, but if we are patient, they will realize the benefits of  
>> the
>> system.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Stuart Thiessen
>>
>> On Oct 19, 2006, at 13:15, Bill Reese wrote:
>>
>> > Val,
>> >
>> > Last night my late-deaf group had one of it's regular coffee  
>> socials
>> > and a sign teacher from a local college showed up with her class of
>> > about 10 hearing students.  I showed her www.signwriting.org on my
>> > sidekick and she admitted that she had looked at it a couple months
>> > ago.  Her students are just beginners and most are taking sign as
>> > their required foreign language.  As such, most won't be going far
>> > with it.  The teacher suggested that signwriting would most  
>> likely fit
>> > in with the sign language structure class, which is normally a  
>> fourth
>> > semester class in sign instruction.  I asked her to pass the word
>> > along to the teacher of that class.  Not sure where it will get  
>> but a
>> > couple of her beginning students snuck a look at what I was showing
>> > her and expressed curiousity.
>> > This was probably the first time I had received constructive  
>> dialogue
>> > instead of skepticism from a local teacher.
>> >
>> > Bill
>> >
>> >
>> > If it's anything like the UK, it will be a long ways to go
>> >
>> > Valerie Sutton wrote:
>> >> SignWriting List
>> >> October 19, 2006
>> >>
>> >> Ha! Well...my experience is that it takes around three times,  
>> before
>> >> people become convinced to look at it...
>> >>
>> >> The first time they are against it, the second time they  
>> discuss it
>> >> more, and the third time they decide to look at it...
>> >>
>> >> So maybe in time he will come around, as others write BSL around
>> >> him...
>> >>
>> >> reading and writing English took centuries to become  
>> established...so
>> >> there is hope!
>> >>
>> >> Val ;-)
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Oct 19, 2006, at 9:46 AM, Shane Gilchrist O hEorpa wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> I did invite him :-)
>> >>>
>> >>> He said he have better things to do...
>> >>>
>> >>> (!)
>> >>>
>> >>> :-)
>> >>>
>> >>> Shane
>> >>>
>> >>> On 19/10/06, Valerie Sutton <signwriting at mac.com> wrote:
>> >>>> SignWriting List
>> >>>> October 19, 2006
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Shane Gilchrist O hEorpa in Belfast wrote:
>> >>>> > Was talking to a deaf leader in England about that system - he
>> >>>> said
>> >>>> > that its no good - what with the development in video  
>> technology
>> >>>> i.e.
>> >>>> > video messages etc - so why the signwriting etc?
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > I said having videomessages etc will not improve kids'  
>> literacy in
>> >>>> > BSL/NISL but having SW will do.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > beside, technology isnt good at keeping stuff - SW can be  
>> printed
>> >>>> on
>> >>>> > any paper and that they ll be still there 500 years away :-)
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Hello Shane and Everyone!
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Those are good points, Shane...
>> >>>>
>> >>>> So did you invite the Deaf leader to the SignWriting Workshop  
>> on Oct
>> >>>> 27th at DCAL? ;-))
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Double-dare him to come to the workshop to see if he has the  
>> courage
>> >>>> to look at it...
>> >>>>
>> >>>> When people give me the video argument, I say:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> "People did not stop writing English when audio recording  
>> equipment
>> >>>> was invented!"
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Written English transcripts are very helpful combined with audio
>> >>>> CDs ;-))
>> >>>>
>> >>>> No different with written Sign Language and videos...they  
>> help each
>> >>>> other....
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I know you know this, Shane...I am just spouting off right  
>> now - ha!
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Val ;-)
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>

Val ;-)

Valerie Sutton
Sutton at SignWriting.org

1. SignWriting
Read & Write Sign Languages
http://www.SignWriting.org

2. SignBank
Create Sign Language Databases
http://www.SignBank.org

3. SignPuddle
Create Sign Language Dictionaries
http://www.SignPuddle.org

4. SignText
Create Sign Language Documents
http://www.SignBank.org/signpuddle/signtext

5. SignWriting List
Technical Support: Ask questions to the List
http://www.SignWriting.org/forums/swlist

6. DanceWriting
Read & Write Dance Movement
http://www.DanceWriting.org

7. MovementWriting
Read & Write All Body Movement
http://www.MovementWriting.org

8. SymbolBank
International Movement Writing Alphabet
http://www.MovementWriting.org/symbolbank

9. Non-profit Organization
Center for Sutton Movement Writing
http://www.SignWriting.org/forums/sponsors

SignWriting Literacy Project
The DAC, Deaf Action Committee
Center For Sutton Movement Writing
an educational nonprofit organization
P.O. Box 517, La Jolla, CA, 92038, USA
tel 858-456-0098   fax 858-456-0020
D-Link Videophone: 66.27.57.178
Skype Name: valeriesutton

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/sw-l/attachments/20061019/7784ddb7/attachment.htm>