Replies to issues raised by Bouchard and Dubuisson (B&D) (1995) about American Sign Language (ASL), refuting B&D's assertion that visual-gestural languages are not bound by any universal constraints on word order and reaffirming that ASL is a highly configurational language with a basic underlying syntactic structure as well as an…

Notes that incorporating sign language in a diverse curriculum enhances the rate of children's learning, leads to greater motivation for reading, and reaches a broad spectrum of children--some of whom may have had difficulties learning with only visual and auditory approaches. Describes how the author incorporates signing in a kindergarten class.…

Examines one kind of syntactic variation--variable subject pronoun presence with American Sign Language plain verbs. Focuses on narratives that occurred during conversations recorded as part of a larger study. (Author/VWL)

This article reflects on Alexander Graham Bell's 1888 testimony before the Royal Commission of the United Kingdom on the Condition of the Deaf and Dumb, Etc. Excerpts are grouped by reference to (1) language education for the hearing impaired; (2) speechreading; (3) methods of teaching; (4) speech; and (5) sign language. (Author/PB)

Traces the development of name signs, developed within the first month of arrival for each of 21 new resident pupils at a Chinese school for the deaf, identifies initiators of signs, discusses the nature of the name signs, and analyzes their linguistic structure. (Author/CB)

Describes a classroom-based project that examines whether three deaf adults enrolled in an adult literacy program could use American Sign Language to access English and improve their literacy skills. The project focused on their first attempt at reading and discussing a novel. Describes a three-step process that guided the learners toward…

States that ASL (American Sign Language) has recently gained the interest of theater educators as a teaching tool, and that Gallaudet University is the leader in deaf theater education. Discusses sign language interpreting for the theater as a growing field. Explores programs in the New York School for the Deaf and the Cleveland SignStage. (PA)

An overview of current knowledge about Russian Sign Language (RSL) and its use in Russia today notes that linguistic study of RSL is still in the beginning stages, defines issues that need to be studied, and suggests directions for further research. (28 references) (JL)

Spatial referencing in American Sign Language (ASL) functions at both the lexical and the discourse levels. In discourse, it can be used by a signer to produce cohesion in comparisons, performatives, and time mapping. The occurrence and function of spatial referencing in an ASL text as it produces cohesion is examined. (11 references) (Author/JL)

This study examined keyword signing (KWS), a communication approach used with nonspeaking individuals. Acoustic measures and judgments of 20 adult listeners were used to evaluate KWS and Spoken-Only narratives. KWS narratives were produced with a slower articulation rate, because of increased pause and speech segment duration and increased pause…

Pre- and postsurgery analysis of a deaf six-year-old's intelligence quotient, communicative ability, emotional adjustment, and school performance found that, after a surgical procedure that provided her with artificial thumbs, the subject showed improved signing, ability to communicate, and physical abilities. (CB)

Argues for the use of American Sign Language (ASL), rather than spoken English or Manual English, with deaf children in to build language and thinking skills and thereby mediate the meaning of English in print and facilitate literacy development. (DB)

A study assessed the frequency of self-reported hand/wrist problems among 184 sign-language communicators. Fifty-nine percent reported experiencing hand/wrist problems, 26 percent reported experiencing hand/wrist problems severe enough to limit their ability to work, and 18 percent reported a medical diagnosis of wrist tendinitis, carpal tunnel…

Novel word learning in three conditions (signed only, spoken only, signed and spoken combined) was compared for young children (N=10) with Down syndrome and mental-age matched controls. No group differences in frequency of imitations or productions were obtained. The frequency of imitations was highest in the combined condition. In the combined…

Describes a director's experience working with "A Taste of Sunrise," a play depicting the deaf culture. Stresses how important it is to educate the cast and provide them an opportunity to learn sign language. Notes that American Sign Language is complex and beautiful and deserves to be carefully studied and respectfully acknowledged by the hearing…