SignWriting Article

[Charles Butler]

I remember being in a lecture in Pelotas, Brazil, by a UK researcher in sign language comparing the modalities of learning languages, resolutiely saying that sign language has no written form so that the parallels between two spoken languages cannot be easily overcome.
   
  That person was listened to, but there was no rebuttal from the audience to clearly address Sign Writing as a system to enable the Deaf to use all modalities other than hearing to learn two languages.  
   
  I, at the time, was a bit disturbed as there were more than 50 users of Sign Writing in the Brazilian audience and the FENEIS conference that happened less than a month later formally adopted SW as the preferred form of sign language transcription for Brazil.  Brazil has made great strides in Sign Writing in many schools and university projects.  We are only 25 years into this process, less than one generation.  We must give it time, just like Cherokee needed tme to be adopted as a written language.  The Cherokee syllabory rescued the Cherokee language from oblivion, so there is every reason to see SW or an equivalent system enabling Deaf people to be fully independent and bilingual and claim their own cultural heritages and beauty.   
   
  Think of the internet, less than 20 years old, and yet having transformed knowledge acquisition, but we are still reading text on the screen, still using written language.  Video has not done away with written words.  
   
  We have an opportunity with SW to preserve sign language in its many forms for generations to come, and it will be a challenge to do it with greater and greater facility.  
   
  We on this web forum have a responsibility to write as much sign language literature as we can so that those who come after can read our thoughts in their native languages.
   
  Charles Butler
   
   
  

Gagnon & thibeault <atg at videotron.ca> wrote:
        

    v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}        st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }                Hi Sergio,
   
  Bilingualism refers to proficiency in two languages. For example, an individual might have proficiency in two spoken languages such as English and French (Canada), or in a spoken language and a sign language such as French and LSQ.  It involves a degre of proficiency in various modes of two languages such as speaking and signing, or reading and writing.
   
        There are four different functions of the modes of the two languages.  Medias (videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs...) only use speaking or signing while children just listen or eyelisten.  Medias with closed captions use reading while Deaf children read with the closed captions for voice or listen for signing and read with the closed captions at the same time.  Deaf children have difficulty to observe, analyse, compare and review learning between two languages.  SW (Sign Writing) books, SW newspapers, SW magazines
. use reading.  Deaf children can easily observe, analyse, compare between a written form and a SW form.  SW papers, SW computers... use writing.  Deaf children can think, review, edit and publish final papers for the writing process.  If Deaf children only produce their signs of story without Sign Writing for medias like videocameras and videotapes
  They must remember everything and practice several times. They have difficulty to review, edit and publish final
 videotapes.  They do not learn the writing process, but they do learn the signing process.  
                                       
  As concerns the medias (technology) and SWs, I think that Sandy F
from UK can answer your questions better than I.  And I hope that she is happy to help.     (continued
.)
   
  Regards
   
        André
   
      
---------------------------------
  
  From: owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu [mailto:owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu] On Behalf Of Sergio Ribeiro
Sent: 26 janvier 2007 11:34
To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
Subject: [sw-l] SignWriting Article

   
  Hello friends,
   
  I am writing article about signwriting use in deaf class, this article will be to the new Magazine. But here in Brazil many peoples, teacher and linguistics, disagree if writing sign languages is really important or necessary, because today we have another medias like DVD, CD-ROM, etc, using video format. What you think about and Deaf members of DAC have what point of view ?
  I want to write this more specific is possible !
  My article title is “SignWriting – Why not ?”. I will explain about sign language history, Stokoe studies and notation, person of the pass that say about sign writing possible like Itard, Bebian and Alexander Graham Bell. But most important point is using sign language at moment, now. Who are using ? Is signwriting great toll for teaching deaf in new approach, bilingual approach ?
  I will be many thankful to see your opinion ! 
   
  Thanks,
   
    Sergio Ribeiro
  Centro Educacional Cultura Surda
  www.culturasurda.com.br 
   



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