Sign Language: The Study of Deaf People and Their Language

Kyle, Jim G.; Woll, Bencie; Pullen, G.

ISBN 10: 0521357179 / ISBN 13: 9780521357173

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1988

Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0521357179I3N10

Synopsis:

The discovery of the importance of sign language in the deaf community is very recent indeed. This book provides a study of the communication and culture of deaf people, and particularly of the deaf community in Britain. The authors' principal aim is to inform educators, psychologists, linguists and professionals working with deaf people about the rich language the deaf have developed for themselves - a language of movement and space, of the hands and of the eyes, of abstract communication as well as iconic story telling. The first chapters of the book discuss the history of sign language use, its social aspects and the issues surrounding the language acquisition of deaf children (BSL) follows, and the authors also consider how the signs come into existence, change over time and alter their meanings, and how BSL compares and contrasts with spoken languages and other signed languages. Subsequent chapters examine sign language learning from a psychological perspective and other cognitive issues. The book concludes with a consideration of the applications of sign language research, particularly in the contentious field of education. There is still much to be discovered about sign language and the deaf community, but the authors have succeeded in providing an extensive framework on which other researchers can build, from which professionals can develop a coherent practice for their work with deaf people, and from which hearing parents of deaf children can draw the confidence to understand their children's world.

From the Back Cover: This book provides a study of the communication and culture of deaf people, and particularly of the deaf community in Britain. The authors' principle aim is to inform educators, psychologist, linguists and professionals working with deaf people about the rich language the deaf have developed for themselves.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Sign Language: The Study of Deaf People and ...
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Date: 1988
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket