Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
From: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Total Communication
Message-ID: <15800@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 20 Nov 90 04:17:04 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org
Distribution: misc
Organization: FidoNet node 1:300/14 - The Emerald Isle, Tucson AZ
Lines: 26
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 11892

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

The concept behind Total Communication seems noble enough. 
However, it is just another way to ignore the fact that the 
deaf child needs to have a visually based language to master 
before the second language (phonetic in nature) can be used 
with any degree of real success. Again and again, I will say 
this. The child is deaf! The ears don't work or work only 
marginally. The eyes are the logical choice for educational 
input. Common sense says a true language (as opposed to 
pseudo languages) is what the child needs  F I R S T in order 
to open the way for the language of his/her dominant 
society's language to be mastered. ASL has all the 
characteristics of a true language. Its own rules, syntax, 
semantics, and even shares certain properties with other 
languages that English does not. Deaf people as a majority, 
even orally educated ones, SEE educated ones, gravitate to 
ASL as years flow by because it is natural to the deaf. It is 
visually based. It meets our needs and above all else, it is 
OURS. 

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org