Comments on: Using Movies to Debate Sign Language http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/ Seeing today's cinema through the movies of the past Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:05:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Sheri Farinha http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-36 Sheri Farinha Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:18:43 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-36 Great Post Patti! Veditz in the Smithsonian! That is incredible! Um, nowhere in veditz speech does he say pse etc right? No he says sign language. Hearing ppl created the division. When studying ASL came up with terms like pse etc. That is soooooo yesterday! Deaf ppl I know simply say Sign Language. No separatism or division. Not Veditz purpose. Preserve sign language period! Great Post Patti! Veditz in the Smithsonian! That is incredible! Um, nowhere in veditz speech does he say pse etc right? No he says sign language. Hearing ppl created the division. When studying ASL came up with terms like pse etc. That is soooooo yesterday! Deaf ppl I know simply say Sign Language. No separatism or division. Not Veditz purpose. Preserve sign language period!

]]> By: patti durr http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-32 patti durr Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:48:17 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-32 there is NO "better than" in anything that Joey or i have written. the issue is not with Deaf folks speaking - the issue is with systems that say one becomes independent through listening and speaking because... that is simply NOT TRUE and majorly OFFENSIVE. the issue is with systems that actively deny the child the right to a fully natural and accessible signed language. and this is de ja vu so Veditz's message is very salient now more than ever. also because knowledge is power - Audism is defined by Dr. Humphries as the notion that one is superior based on one's ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears. Deaf folks who advocate for a Deaf child's right to a fully accessible and natural language are challenging systems and practices that obstruct this right, they are not opposing folks who do talk. so lets return to the point of this article - the power of the medium of film to make the invisible visible and for people to document and disseminate their culture and language. That is a GREAT thing. the actual typed up speech by Veditz' of "Preservation of Sign Language" can be found at http://handeyes.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/george-veditz-1861-1937/ scroll down for the documents it is very poetic and prophetic in places, indeed. Again Mr. Eagan and the Smithonian - I thank you. Peace Patti there is NO “better than” in anything that Joey or i have written.

the issue is not with Deaf folks speaking – the issue is with systems that say one becomes independent through listening and speaking because… that is simply NOT TRUE and majorly OFFENSIVE. the issue is with systems that actively deny the child the right to a fully natural and accessible signed language. and this is de ja vu so Veditz’s message is very salient now more than ever.

also because knowledge is power – Audism is defined by Dr. Humphries as the notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears.

Deaf folks who advocate for a Deaf child’s right to a fully accessible and natural language are challenging systems and practices that obstruct this right, they are not opposing folks who do talk.

so lets return to the point of this article – the power of the medium of film to make the invisible visible and for people to document and disseminate their culture and language. That is a GREAT thing.

the actual typed up speech by Veditz’ of “Preservation of Sign Language” can be found at http://handeyes.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/george-veditz-1861-1937/

scroll down for the documents

it is very poetic and prophetic in places, indeed.

Again Mr. Eagan and the Smithonian – I thank you.

Peace

Patti

]]> By: Joey Baer http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-31 Joey Baer Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:19:38 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-31 I realized that Daniel did not link to show part of Veditz's film so I am including a link here for your viewing. http://www.joeybaer.com/asl/veditz.htm Thank you! I realized that Daniel did not link to show part of Veditz’s film so I am including a link here for your viewing. http://www.joeybaer.com/asl/veditz.htm

Thank you!

]]> By: SB http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-29 SB Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:57:01 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-29 Joey, are you saying that deaf people who sign are better than deaf people who speak? Sounds like audism to me... Joey, are you saying that deaf people who sign are better than deaf people who speak? Sounds like audism to me…

]]> By: Joey Baer http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-27 Joey Baer Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:36:18 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-27 Thank you Smithsonian for making time to appreciate and recognize George W. Veditz's attempt to preserve Sign Language which is known as American Sign Language (ASL) these days. I certainly hope Smithsonian will continue and expand his work more in its own museum. More truths (People of the Eye blog) have come out in recent years to show the oppression toward our beautiful American Sign Language. As George said in the film, "sign language as it is the the noblest gift God has given to the Deaf". We have seen more discussion among the society on respecting one other, Deaf people deserve the utmost respect of our own true language, American Sign Language. We look forward to brighter days for our Deaf children to be able to learn and acquire American Sign Language to become better America citizens. Thank you Smithsonian for making time to appreciate and recognize George W. Veditz’s attempt to preserve Sign Language which is known as American Sign Language (ASL) these days. I certainly hope Smithsonian will continue and expand his work more in its own museum.

More truths (People of the Eye blog) have come out in recent years to show the oppression toward our beautiful American Sign Language. As George said in the film, “sign language as it is the the noblest gift God has given to the Deaf”.

We have seen more discussion among the society on respecting one other, Deaf people deserve the utmost respect of our own true language, American Sign Language. We look forward to brighter days for our Deaf children to be able to learn and acquire American Sign Language to become better America citizens.

]]> By: SB http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-26 SB Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:49:13 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-26 Please don't link to the People of the Eye blog. It is full of nastiness and hostility. The Smithsonian should be better than this. Please don’t link to the People of the Eye blog. It is full of nastiness and hostility. The Smithsonian should be better than this.

]]> By: Don G. http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-25 Don G. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:47:22 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-25 Very nice write-up and encapsulation of the what was going on behind the oral-manual controversy. Veditz was truly a great, perceptive leader who had much foresight for our Deaf community. Thank you for pointing out the difference between Padden's and Veditz's own translation of his speech, which I've seen a number of times. Veditz's translation makes me appreciate even more the poetry of his signs and his true intent behind what he was signing. Now I need to go back and find his translation and reread it much more carefully! Very nice write-up and encapsulation of the what was going on behind the oral-manual controversy. Veditz was truly a great, perceptive leader who had much foresight for our Deaf community.

Thank you for pointing out the difference between Padden’s and Veditz’s own translation of his speech, which I’ve seen a number of times. Veditz’s translation makes me appreciate even more the poetry of his signs and his true intent behind what he was signing. Now I need to go back and find his translation and reread it much more carefully!

]]> By: Dianrez http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-24 Dianrez Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:00:57 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-24 The controversy frequently is described as be Oral (Listening and Speaking) versus ASL. Not really--it is Oral versus a comprehensive approach that includes ASL, English in its written and read forms, and oral. Oralism is a limited approach while the other is a multi-disciplinary approach. It is no wonder we are seeing some children with stunted development of language as a result of limited approaches. The controversy frequently is described as be Oral (Listening and Speaking) versus ASL.

Not really–it is Oral versus a comprehensive approach that includes ASL, English in its written and read forms, and oral. Oralism is a limited approach while the other is a multi-disciplinary approach.

It is no wonder we are seeing some children with stunted development of language as a result of limited approaches.

]]> By: patti durr http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-23 patti durr Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:17:31 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-23 Daniel - biggest thanks for your write up here honoring Veditz, the man, his Preservation of Sign Language speech, and his work on the National Association of the Deaf Motion Picture project. Reel-ly appreciate all you wrote as well as the Smithonian's valuing of Deaf culture, Deaf history, American Sign Language, cultural and linguistic diversity, artifacts, multiculturalism-multingualism, language rights and social justice. Ya hoo - life is grand. Thank you also for understanding that the debate is Oralism (oral / aural ONLYism) vs. Bilingualism (ASL+English) depriving the Deaf of a fully natural and accessible signed language vs. allowing them to have two or more languages Thank you again Much peace, Patti Daniel – biggest thanks for your write up here honoring Veditz, the man, his Preservation of Sign Language speech, and his work on the National Association of the Deaf Motion Picture project.

Reel-ly appreciate all you wrote as well as the Smithonian’s valuing of Deaf culture, Deaf history, American Sign Language, cultural and linguistic diversity, artifacts, multiculturalism-multingualism, language rights and social justice.

Ya hoo – life is grand.

Thank you also for understanding that the debate is Oralism (oral / aural ONLYism) vs. Bilingualism (ASL+English)

depriving the Deaf of a fully natural and accessible signed language vs. allowing them to have two or more languages

Thank you again

Much peace,

Patti

]]> By: JP http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/2011/09/using-movies-to-debate-sign-language/#comment-21 JP Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:07:09 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/movies/?p=95#comment-21 Who knew? Seems like there is a lot of partisanship on ASL v.s. Oral communication for the deaf. Very nice writing. Who knew? Seems like there is a lot of partisanship on ASL v.s. Oral communication for the deaf. Very nice writing.

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