Seeing Language in Sign: The Work of William C. Stokoe

by Jane Maher, Oliver Sacks (Foreword)

In 1955 William C. Stokoe arrived at Gallaudet College (later Gallaudet University) to teach English where he was first exposed to deaf people signing. While most of his colleagues dismissed signing as mere mimicry of speech, Stokoe saw in it elements of a distinctive language all its own.  Seeing Language in Sign  traces the process that Stokoe followed to prove scientifically and unequivocally that American Sign Language (ASL) met the full criteria of linguistics―phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and use of language―to be classified a fully developed language.

     This perceptive account dramatically captures the struggle Stokoe faced in persuading the establishment of the truth of his discovery. Other faculty members ridiculed or reviled him, and many deaf members of the Gallaudet community laughed at his efforts.  Seeing Language in Sign  rewards the reader with a rich portrayal of an undaunted advocate who, like a latter-day Galileo, pursued his vision doggedly regardless of relentless antagonism. He established the Linguistics Research Laboratory, then founded the journal 

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

216 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[David Player · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is an important book for anyone who wants to understand the history of ASL linguistics. The politics of language policies in Gallaudet Univ was the reflection of its Oralism era. Learned a lot!

[Jasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I scanned this in a few hours. Fun, but more of a sideways introduction to the great controversy between _oralism_ and sign language. Love the idea that Stokoe is a hero who hugely help liberate the deaf community. Scary / sad to think of decades / centuries of poor treatment of deaf folks.