In recent decades, a growing body of scholarship has recognised the inappropriateness of conceptualising and representing communicative practices in terms of essentialized codes where different named language-varieties and modalities mutually exclude one another. At the same time, making visible complex practices has resulted in methodologies and…

Signed languages around the world have tended to maintain an "oral," unwritten status. Despite the advantages of possessing a written form of their language, signed language communities typically resist and reject attempts to create such written forms. The present article addresses many of the arguments against written forms of signed…

Discusses trends and future issues in the bilingual education of deaf children, including teacher learning and use of American Sign Language (ASL), the total communication approach, deaf teachers' use of ASL, the coding of English in signs, and signed English and ASL as complementary communication systems. (five references) (CB)

This paper discusses the role of American Sign Language (ASL) in educating deaf children, based on the history of using manually coded English (MCE). The paper concludes that use of ASL should not be the ultimate goal of bilingual bicultural programs, and, in some classrooms, the optimal program will be complementary use of ASL and MCE. (JDD)

Research shows that native signers do better academically than Ss who use speechreading, written English, or manual forms of English. Instruction through a natural sign language is also a benefit, and the transition to teaching through English can be successfully accomplished at about the fifth-grade level. (Author)

Historical and current trends, practices, and perspectives regarding manual communication in educating deaf children are discussed, including Manually Coded English systems and American Sign Language. Issues concerning choice of sign language/systems and instructional strategies that support sign usage (such as Total Communication, Simultaneous…

Examines the status and methods of bilingual education for deaf children, involving the teaching of a signed language, and compares such education to bilingual education involving two spoken languages. (Author/CB)

Research is reviewed on bilingual education and its application to the education of hearing-impaired students. Assessment procedures for obtaining valid samples of language behavior, distinguishing between competence and performance, and considering language variation are emphasized. (CL)

Presents an overview of some factors that affect the culture and linguistic minority status of the deaf. These factors include language and the deaf world; the deaf community; bilingual and multicultural education of the deaf; and demographic aspects of hearing impairment. (Author/VWL)

First reviews the literature on bilingual/bicultural education for deaf students (DBiBi education). DBiBi education recognizes American Sign Language and English as distinct languages and deaf and hearing cultures as distinguishable sociocultural groups. It then describes environmental and pedagogical aspects that characterize DBiBi education as…

This paper discusses factors that influence deaf and hard of hearing children's spoken English development. It addresses philosophical and practical issues related to maximizing these children's communication with the hearing majority within an educational environment that capitalizes on American Sign Language as a fully accessible language for…

A teacher of deaf children responds to a treatise recommending expanded use of American Sign Language (ASL) in deaf education by addressing the immediate problems that parents, teachers, school authorities, and linguists will need to carefully consider in implementing an ASL-based bilingual approach to educating young children. (CB)

Panelists involved in deaf education teaching, research, and administration discuss the application of English-as-a-Second-Language methods for teaching English to deaf students, focusing on educational theories, use of American Sign Language, teacher education needs, and sociocultural factors. (CB)

This article presents theoretical, empirical, and practical considerations of creating a bilingual (American Sign Language and English) environment in which deaf children can develop linguistic competence. Traditional environments for these students are compared with bilingual environments, and empirical support for deaf bilingualism is…

Discusses the rationale for implementing an experimental program for teaching language to young deaf children using a bilingual English as a Second Language approach. A program syllabus class activities, and evaluation procedures are described. (34 references) (CB) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education)