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Amy Horney
MAJ Ha
10 February 2016
Writing Assignment 1 (Rough Draft)
Help Received: Works Cited
Many non-written communication methods involve groups of people from a
particular time period or culture. More often than not, those non-written ways of
communication disintegrate throughout the years. For example, the Egyptians
communicated through hieroglyphics and now they communicate using modern
information technologies such as books or email or the Internet. I would like to focus on
another group of individuals that have been around since the beginning of time and are
still around today, the deaf.
People who are deaf are unable to hear or, in other words, are either totally or
partially deprived of hearing. That being said, they cannot communicate with those who
do not have disabilities, which is why the sign language was invented. Sign language is
now commonly known as American Sign Language or ASL. ASL originates from a sign
language invented in 18th century France by a group of deaf individuals themselves.
Americans owe the use of ASL to a man by the name of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. It
has been said, “While in Europe he met Laurent Clerc, a recent deaf graduate. Clerc
taught Gallaudet about deaf education methods and sign language. Gallaudet convinced
Clerc to return home with him to America to help set up America’s first school for the
deaf,” (Rosen 1). Gallaudet pioneered sign language in the United States.
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Sign language is essentially a method of communication through hand gestures. It
is important that the signer (person who signs) use facial expressions as well.
Undergraduate research at the University of Florida states, “Facial expressions are to deaf
individuals what tone in conversation is to hearing people. Without facial expressions, the
‘listener’ would have no idea if the ‘speaker’ was trying to be serious, sarcastic or telling
a joke,” (Rosen Facial Expressions 1). Basically, in order to master sign language, one
must also become proficient in facial expressions. It is also preferred by many deaf
individuals that no distracting clothing be worn when someone is signing. If distracting
clothing is worn, then the deaf person can be distracted by colors and movements and at
times the clothing can get in the way of a certain sign or obstruct the deaf individual’s
vision. Other simple steps can be taken to make sign language communication more
efficient and effective. For example, if the deaf individual is not looking toward the
signer and the signer would like to start a conversation, it is proper sign language
protocol to lightly tap the deaf person to draw their attention to the signer. Shouting the
deaf person’s name would not get their attention for the obvious reason that they are hard
of hearing. It also vital that the person interpreting the sign language is attentive and not
looking in other directions when someone is signing to them. This is considered to be
impolite in the sign language community, not to mention the fact that someone could
miss a part of the message being relayed by the signer. By doing these small things, it
makes it easier for sign language to be communicated between two people.
Before the invention of sign language, deaf people communicated via reading lips
but some could not communicate hardly at all. Although in modern day people think very
little about a deaf person being significantly disabled or not part of the norm, “how deaf
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people experience life today is directly related to how they were treated in the past. It
wasn’t long ago when the deaf were harshly oppressed and denied even their fundamental
rights,” (StartASL 1). In some areas, these people were not even recognized as a real
human being. Some had to have aids with them at all times and others were not allowed
to partake in normal activities such as marriage. Since then, the deaf community has
come a long way.
The start of sign language was essentially the start of the recognition of deaf
people as a community of people. It showed the people around them that they too were
normal and could communicate but in a slightly different way. Often times when a group
of people establishes a language or way of communication, they become a community.
Similarly, the Indians created smoke signals pertinent to their tribe or area, this made
them a more cohesive unit. Sign language bridged the gap between the deaf and the nondeaf people of the world. Deaf people are now able to communicate with others through
sign language, not just other deaf individuals.
It is important that sign language be consistent across the globe to ensure a
smoother communication between sign language users. Now that sign language is a
universal language, deaf people have so many more opportunities in the world today.
They are able to obtain more jobs, become more social through communication, and
studies have shown that learning sign language from a young age also stimulates the
education of a spoken language because children associate certain words and objects with
signs. Sign language is also beneficial to people who are not hard of hearing because they
can communicate more easily with a deaf individual and there are also many jobs as
interpreters for sign language. Sign language does not discriminate who it benefits.
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The language of sign was a monumental invention in history. It was an entirely
different language invented to help others. Without it, there will always be a question if
deaf individuals would ever be looked at as normal or if they would ever live a normal
life. Although sign language will exist for years and years to come because there will
always be individuals born without hearing; modern technology has made advancements
with inventions such as hearing aids and cochlear implants which is when a tool is
applied to a persons cochlea (part of the ear) and it promotes hearing. That being said,
sign language will always be around but it is how often it will be used where the question
lies.
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Works Cited
Gross, Dale. "The Benefits of American Sign Language (ASL)." ASL University.
Lifeprint, 29 Nov. 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
"History of Sign Language - Deaf History." Start ASL. Start ASL, 2008. Web. 10 Feb.
2016.
Rosen, Elissa. “ABCs of SAL.” Signing Etiquetee. University of Florida, n.d. Web 10
Feb. 2016