Deaf-Hearing Chart Sample - Article Example

Reading Comprehension Origins of Sign Languages Armstrong and Sherman point out that the origin of sign language is coincident with the origin of language because in phylogenetic point of view, sign language is the first true language. Quoting Kendall’s speech, it is pointed out that the language of signs either accompanied or preceded the language of sounds (p. 305). Based on the study of Stokoe (1960), Armstrong and Sherman claim that all spoken languages have phonological structure and the same is applicable to American Sign Language (ASL).

The scholars argue that Chimpanzees are the closest living relatives of humans, and hence, a study on them can give some information about the capabilities of the common ancestors. (p. 307). These animals are quite limited in the ability to use spoken language. However, their ability to acquire visible-gesture communication is much greater. This shows that the common ancestors of chimpanzees and humans had a substantial capacity for communication with visible gestures. The evolution of grammar and syntax is explained by the authors using semantic phonology.

In this concept, hands are prototypical nouns, and their actions are prototypical verbs. When this hand acts on the other hand, the second hand acts as the object. They argue that all languages are essentially gestural. In spoken language, the vocal tract acts in a way to produce an acoustic signal while in sign language, an optical signal is produced (p. 309). Throughout history, humans used both visible and acoustic gestures to communicate, and hence, both are undeniably linked (p. 310). The authors argue that the nonlinguistic gestures become a part of sign language lexicography over time.

The modern sign languages originate in societies when certain conditions are present; among a group of deaf people, and in situations where speaking is prohibited or impossible (p. 312). Some examples are French Sign Language (FSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and Nicaraguan Sign Language (NSL) (p. 313). However, whether this ability to create language and grammar is innate or acquired from society is still controversial (p. 315). 2. What is Sign Language?The chapter “What is a Language?” looks into the characteristics of a language.

The first argument is that a language contains symbols and grammatical signals. In other words, there are words or signs representing something else and grammatical structures to show how the symbols are related (p. 31). However, these grammatical signals vary from language to language. Secondly, the members of a community share some symbols and grammatical signals, which the members of another community may not understand (p. 33). Both signed languages and spoken languages are layered systems with specific rules to join their basic building blocks (p. 33).The next point is that every language contains relatively arbitrary symbols and grammatical signals.

While some symbols are iconic, some are arbitrary. The point is that without a certain degree of arbitrariness, it will not be possible to talk about a number of things. Some examples are abstract things like love, beauty and faith (p. 39). Another point is that the symbols and grammatical signals of a language changes over time (p. 40). Finally, the conclusion is that a language is a system of “relatively arbitrary symbols and grammatical structures that change over time” and that is used by “members of a community” to interact with each other, to convey ideas and to transmit culture (p. 44).3.

What is American Sign Language?This chapter admits that in ASL, the gestures are not “imprecise and irregular” but governed by “a special set of rules” (p. 47). ASL had its origin in the year 1817 when Gallaudet and Clerc established the Institution for Deaf-Mutes, which was later renamed the American Asylum at Hartford for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. Until then, people had used their home signs but there was no unified and effective way of communicating (p. 50).Many German and English words are similar because both the languages come from the same language family.

Hence, there is similarity between ASL and FSL, and the similarity is visible in 60% of the signs (p. 52). In fact, the old ASL is a combination of the signs used in America prior to 1817 and the old FSL. As time passed, the old ASL changed significantly to become the modern ASL. The Deaf Community is defined in two ways’; clinical-pathologically and culturally. According to the clinical-pathological definition, the deaf community is a group of persons with impaired hearing. According to the cultural definition, they are a group of people with a shared common language (ASL) and a common culture (54)The four avenues to membership in deaf community are audiological, political, linguistic, and social (p. 56).Deaf community helps deaf people share their experiences because it is not possible for them to communicate in a spoken language.

In this community, ASL acts as the essential medium of communication. There are three main reasons why ASL survived despite suppression. Firstly, oppression makes the members of deaf community unite strongly to protect their language and communication rights. Secondly, deaf people “gravitate towards a language received through the eyes rather than the ears” because of their inability to hear (p. 59) and thirdly, they do not communicate with people outside deaf community in ASL. Instead, they use a combination of signs and sound, thus protecting ASL from external influence and change.