why signwriting in 21st century

[Steve Slevinski]

Hi Honza,

One word... "Literacy"!

Literacy is an amazing word.  It means the ability to read and write.  
I've heard the term "ASL Literacy" and I shake my head.  They use the 
word literacy to mean educated, but that's because of the history of the 
word - only the educated could read and write.

Before you can appreciate literacy, you need to understand each skill 
involved.  Reading is not a single skill, but 4 distinct skills that 
build on one another.  The first level is elementary reading: the 
ability to understand symbols individually, symbols together to form 
word, and words together to form sentences.

The second level is inspectional reading.  How long would it take you to 
read a 400 page book?  It really depends on the quality of the book.  
Some books only deserve 5 minutes.  Other books deserve multiple 
readings.  Inspectional reading assumes that  you have 5 minutes with a 
book.  You read the cover, back page, the index at the back and the 
table of contents at the beginning.  You then flip through the entire 
book.  After 5 minutes you should be able to explain the basics of the 
book, and you should be able to decide whether the book is worth your 
time to read as a whole or in part.  If you only have 5 minutes with a 
DVD, you'll probably still be navigating the menu.

The third level of reading is analytical.  Is it a practical or a 
theoretical book?  Practical books deal with what works.  Theoretical 
books have something to be understood.  The distinction is between 
action and knowledge.  Theoretical books teach you that something is.  
Practical books teach you how to do something.    Analytical reading 
requires that you create an outline of the book, either in your head or 
on paper.  It also requires that you come to terms with the author.  The 
author will use words (or signs) in a certain way.  Understanding the 
main words the author is using is of the utmost importance.  Next in 
analytical reading is to understand the author's message.  Is his 
message personal opinion or is it supported by reason.  Lastly, you need 
to understand the author's solution.  Only then will you really 
understand the book, and only then can you state that you agree, 
disagree, or you're not sure about the author's message.

The fourth level of reading is syntopical reading.  Syntopical reading 
involves more than one book and more than one author.  Syntopical 
reading is really about discovering the shape of the discussion.  The 
first step is to find several works that discuss the main idea.  The 
next step is to understand all of the special terms the various authors 
use that may or may not be the same.  Next you'll need to define the 
questions and issues.  Only then can you understand the discussion at 
large. 

Writing is a whole other topic.  It includes penmanship, note taking, 
outlining, freewriting, and editing.

Literacy change the structure and quality of the mind.  Merely watching 
a video will never compare with active and skillful reading.  I find the 
idea of pressing a record or play button equal in skill to the mastery 
of literacy to be laughable. 

This is an amazing time in history when book, pens, pencils, paper and 
notecards are so cheap.  It's easy to underestimate the power of the 
mind.  But a computer, no matter how fancy or flashy, will never compare 
to what the skillful individual can achieve through the skill of literacy.

Regards,
-Steve


Honza wrote:
> I hope most of sw-l members have subscrbed again for a list, so there 
> is someone answering.
>
> as you know when telling people about SignWriting there are always 
> people saying "thats good think" and another people saying "why SW 
> when we have cameras, computers..  there is no sence writing sign 
> language when it is easier just to record it on camera"
>
> I always answer but don't have camera or computer always by you..
>
> what is your opinion, what would you answer?
> thank all of you.. 
> (If there are enought answer I will publish your answer in Czech deaf 
> magazine) - thats not warning at all ;)
>
> Honza
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