Minna Maria

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

American Sign Language (ASL) and The 3rd World

IS A SIGN LANGUAGE A LINGUISTIC GENOCIDE?

I was just thinking about developing countries` sign languages, do they have their own country`s sign language? For example, in Africa, Malaysia, Singapore etc, Deaf people are using ASL, why did they just use ASL, not their own country`s sign language? I surely understand the teachers who are from USA and using ASL to teach and they will surely help Deaf in the developing countries which is fine and beautiful BUT, very importantly THINK!! Why ASL teachers do not think about the country`s own sign language and respect that? Or what? I don`t know why. Does ASL have a power in the Deaf World? NO, WE DON`T WANT THAT! International Sign is missing now which is sad.

So I am interested to investigate more about that!

Are ASL a part of genocide against the 3rd world`s sign languages?

Deaf in developing countries

We all know that they have a hard life there. Surely they could learn English language but no ASL sign language can control their own home country`s sign language! English language makes them to improve their contacts with other countries from all over the world. But why use ASL? What does ASL benefit ALL Deaf people in developing countries?

What you think? Let me know about you`r thinks via comments, please!