James Woodenlegs first learned to communicate using Plains Indians Sign Language from his family, when he was growing up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Known as "hand talk" or "sign talk," the language has been used by both deaf and hearing Indians from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico for at least 200 years, possibly much longer.Be sure to visit this website and there is a very interesting video that has an old black and white video of an indian signing (with captions) sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
ASL thrives: ISL dies (and gets pushed out of the way)
That the way it goes but does it need to be like that? The extinction of a language by fate where it loses out to more popular and used language. So, does abandoning one sign language in favor of another more popular sign language be seen as a kind of eugenics in the works? Here in this article about John Woodenlegs in his effort to preserve his sign language history.
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16 comments:
I'm pleased that there are efforts to preserve Native American sign languages!
These are regarded as equal to other endangered languages and are worthy of examination and conservation. That is telling a lot for its linguistic value.
What was interesting was that although these are HEARING men using NA sign language (that was likely not taught to them by NA deaf people), they had the same feel, cadence and natural movements that we have in ASL.
What could be happening is that NA Deaf sign languages may not actually disappear but some of it becomes absorbed into regional ASL. I'd be interested to see if that is happening.
ISL still thriving in the Shadow Mountains and The Barona tribes. I will be with them this weekend. Those folks are extremely hateful toward ASL and the folks who push for it. I have allies toward common enemy.
ASL/BSL is no different from the European invasion of America that saw native Americans pushed to near extinction, it is the railroading of one language over another, not even colonising There is no reason languages cannot co-exist, however sign is like 'English' and uncompromising and they are not bothered if another sign or culture/language is pushed aside for theirs. They are so upset English is now used to sideline ASL or BSL, what comes around etc.... not nice is it...
Exciting! I'm glad to see that Melanie and James are now working together. It brought a smile on my face this morning. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Richard Roehm (WHISPERING WIND)
I clicked on Whipsering Wind and your username Nesmuth popped up.
Hummmmm
That's really a gold finding you got, kokonut.
I'm not sure if that's the same guy I've seen publishing indian sign language book published way back in mid 1950's, if my memory serves me correctly.
Mike,
What and who pushed out ISL?
Was it intentionally?
I would like to know about this and where are the facts that ISL "was pushed out of the way".
It reminds me of a neighbor that got a Yugo car but eventually got a Ford. So I wonder if Ford intentionally pushed Yugo out of the way or what is the real facts of what happened with why the neighbor uses the Ford instead of Yugo car?
I have not disrespect of ISL and surely would like to learn it, but your remark, ASL thrives: ISL dies (gets pushed out of the way) makes me wonder what you are trying to say.
John, are you saying that ASL is far superior than ISL?
Tsk.
Mike, you said that ISL got pushed out of the way and I asked you to explain how that was done and if it was intentional.
Where you get your assumption that I said ASL is far superior than ISL?
Simple, John. You used the Ford and Yugo analogy. Ford is, of course, far more superior than a Yugo car. No?
So, ISL (used by Deaf Native Indians) didn't get pushed aside in favor of ASL and Deaf culture when it comes to choosing which one is the better culture to thrive in?
Mike, again, you assumed wrong and it is your thoughts that Ford is more superior than a Yugo, not mine.
And who said, "when it comes to choosing which one is the better culture to thrive in?"
YOU!
WE Deaf people will never compete with ISL and we fully respect them and their visual language.
Just like Deafchip said, it is the white hearing people from many groups such as AGBell and its cronies that discriminates American Sign Language despite the hypocrite recognition of ASL in their website.
Oh, forgot one more, Deafchip said that you are stupid but I disagree, I think you are misguided and very inconsiderate with no show for of your public activities helping others.
Let me ask you. Why did the neighbor buy a Ford? Why not get another Yugo?
Think carefully, John. My comment "when it comes to choosing which one is the better culture to thrive in" is about the more popular culture to thrive in. Remember, in that study where it discusses that once after graduation many of the Deaf Native Indians had to decide, and many decided to go with a Deaf culture that uses ASL and forsake their own ISL, heritage and culture. That sounds pretty much like eugenics to me.
And as for your comment: "WE Deaf people will never compete with ISL and we fully respect them and their visual language." I'm sorry, but you have already done that by continually putting ASL at the top as the only language for everybody to use simply because it's the most used sign language around. Instead of "sign languages" it's one, ASL.
As for Deafchip, it's his own opinion. As for you, learn not to get so personal around here. As a "leader" you constantly do that whenever you get frustrated. And as for helping, sure, I'm helping. I'm helping people think for a change.
Another round of applause for your digging deeper and deeper again to show more proofs/truths of this country's very first sign language and how ISL signers have endured for so many years.
Yeah, it made me smile and also very excited to read this blog and then having heavy sadness for both Native Indian and deaf communities. Oh well, at least I know that we're all okay- just as human beings.
Well, keep up great works, Mike, and don't give up.
Laura
your point? As far I'm concerned, if Auslan evolved and took over ASL, no biggie, it is still sign language. I'm sure most people are very supportive of international sign languages -- unlike some people who says "come to America, then speak the language"
Another thing, Native Americans are very small in population, for ISL to exist today is amazing! And yes ASL will exist and be alive as well. It may be different from now. It's just sad that some people have to suffer without any sign language because of some spoken language
Auslan is not Native American culture, it is linked with a deaf one. If one overrides the other then a culture is lost. ASL users MUST use ISL when communicating to them, that is the rule we have in Wales, they must use the welsh language, even deaf. If welsh speakers want to join in with deaf cultural output then they sign BSL.
Bilingualism is a trojan horse otherwise. That's appropriate respect, it should never be an and/or situation, or that IS competition, the access excuse indeed the equal rights law is not valid there. Give and take not take and take.
We can't go with loudest voice wins if we want culture preserved. It's like insisting All French people speak German because Germans do not want to learn French or something.. COLONISATION. Even deaf do it...
Im still waiting for Ebonics sign language to materialize from the black Deaf community so they wouldnt wanted to put up with whitey ASL nomore.
;P
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