embedding ASL in pdf/html

[Cherie Wren]

What hearing people have done, more than just a few times, is take the LANGUAGE of Deaf people, ASL, and minimize it into a code for English (or whatever).  Using the signs to' stand for' words in another language without understanding the grammar and structure that make ASL a language is reducing one of the most beautiful languages into nothing more than morse code on the hands.  Its like taking a beautiful piece of art and cutting it into pieces to use for note paper.   While using it to play your game to teach yet another language is, I am sure, useful to you, it contributes to the all too common misunderstanding that ASL is not a proper language, it is just 'hand talk code' and can be thrown about willy nilly in any fashion we want.  It denigrates ASL into a SUB-sub-language status.  (it has long been considered "less than" spoken language, now its being pushed even lower.)

Wow.  Sorry.  I didn't realize I felt that strongly about it until I started writing.  I sat and seriously debated whether I wanted to send this or delete it, but you asked...  I have nothing against you or your project, and I hope this doesn't come across as too offensive.  But I have been fighting with hearing people who treat ASL as a way to manually represent English for FAAAARRR too long.  I apologize if I have ruffled any feathers...

cherie





________________________________
From: Adam Frost <icemandeaf at gmail.com>
To: SignWriting List <sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
Sent: Tue, March 23, 2010 2:32:19 PM
Subject: Re: [sw-l] embedding ASL in pdf/html

That's exactly what he meant. It is something that has to be treaded carefully because it has happened too many times where that exact fear has happened. That is why so many Deaf people are so protective.

Adam

On Mar 23, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Valerie Sutton wrote:

> So I am trying to imagine what the Deaf person meant by saying that to you...I would assume there is a possible fear, that hearing people will use Deaf people's native language, ASL, which is a true language, just for games, and not understand its importance in society .... do you think that was what he meant?
> 
> Adam?




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