SASL Newsletter - Fall 2019 Issue Issue 15 - Fall 2019 | Seite 12

By Samuel J. Supalla
Citation
Bahan, B., & Poole Nash, J. (1996). The formation of signing communities. In J. Mann (Ed.), Deaf
studies IV conference proceedings (pp. 1-26). Washington, DC: Gallaudet University College of
Continuing Education.
Abstract
In this paper, we examine the life of one signing community that prospered from before the founding
of the American School for the Deaf until the early 1950s. This community on Martha's Vineyard was
unique because there was a high concentration of deaf people in a small geographic area where
hearing people signed as well. There have been and are few signing communities that are similar
elsewhere in the world where both deaf and hearing people sign. In order to provide a picture of what
life is like in an assimilating community, we will discuss the narrative history of Martha's Vineyard as
an island off Massachusetts and how the sign language was used on the island. Finally, we compare
patterns of suppressing and assimilating communities that affect the quality of life for deaf people.
(8 ¼ minutes long)
The Power of ASL
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Fall 2019 – Issue 15