The Study of Signed Languages: Essays in Honor of William C. Stokoe

by David F. Armstrong, Michael A. Karchmer, John Vickrey Van Cleve

Overview

In 1999, many of today’s notable researchers assembled at a special conference in honor of William C. Stokoe to explore the remarkable research that grew out of his original insights on American Sign Language. The Study of Signed Languages presents the fascinating findings from that conference.

       Part 1, Historical Perspectives, begins with a description of the decline of sign language studies in the 1800s. Past research on signed languages and its relationship to language origins theory follows, along with a consideration of modality and conflicting agendas for its study.

       In Part 2, Language Origins, the first entry intrigues with the possibility that sign language could answer conundrums posed by Noam Chomsky’s linguistic theories. The next essay considers how to build a better language model by citing continuity, ethology, and Stokoe’s work as key elements. Stokoe’s own research on the gestural theory of language origins is examined in the section’s closing chapter.

       Part 3, Diverse Populations, delineates the impact of sign language research on black deaf communities in America, on deaf education, on research into variation in sign language, and even on sign communication and the motor functioning of autistic children and others. In its wide-ranging, brilliant scholarship, The Study of Signed Languages serves as a fitting tribute to William C. Stokoe and his work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781563685101
Publisher:	Gallaudet University Press
Publication date:	02/15/2011
Edition description:	1st Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

David F. Armstrong is an anthropologist and former Executive Director and Budget Director, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.

Table of Contents

	List of Contributors	viii
	Preface: William C. Stokoe and the Study of Signed Languages	xi
	Introduction: Bill Stokoe: An ASL Trailblazer	1
Part 1	Historical Perspectives
	Introduction	9
1	The Curious Death of Sign Language Studies in the Nineteenth Century	13
2	Historical Observations on the Relationship Between Research on Sign Languages and Language Origins Theory	35
3	Modality Effects and Conflicting Agendas	53
Part 2	Language Origins
	Introduction	85
4	Does Sign Language Solve the Chomsky Problem?	89
5	Continuity, Ethology, and Stokoe: How to Build a Better Language Model	100
6	William C. Stokoe and the Gestural Theory of Language Origins	118
Part 3	Diverse Populations
	Introduction	133
7	The Impact of Variation Research on Deaf Communities	137
8	The Impact of Sign Language Research on Black Deaf Communities in America	161
9	Bilingualism and the Impact of Sign Language Research on Deaf Education	172
10	Sign Communication Training and Motor Functioning in Children with Autistic Disorder and in Other Populations	190
11	Gesture and the Nature of Language in Infancy: The Role of Gesture as a Transitional Device En Route to Two-Word Speech	213
	Concluding Thoughts: The Future of American Sign Language	247
	Index	263

Editorial Reviews

This text contains papers that were presented at an October 1999 conference at Gallaudet University in honor of the 80th birthday of William C. Stokoe, one of the most influential language scholars of the 20th century. Twenty-two international specialists contribute 12 chapters on the historical context of Stokoe's work; the issue of language origins; the diverse populations, deaf and hearing, which have benefited from Stokoe's work; and the influence of Stokoe's work on other scholarly research in the field of signed language linguistics. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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