‘Real’ sign language studied
Deaf people have evolved a sophisticated language which is little understood by hearing people and is officially ignored, according to American linguist Marianne Collins-Ahlgren.
The sign language deaf people were taught at school was based on converting spoken English to signs and bore little resemblance to the complex sign language they used among themselves, she said.
“Most deaf people are bi-lingual. They know, speak and read English but they have their own genuine language, quite separate from English.”
Dr Collins-Ahlgren’s seven-year study of the “real” language of deaf New Zealanders has earned her a doctorate in applied linguistics from Victoria University.
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- Sign Language
- TV/Media
