SASL Newsletter - Spring 2018 Issue Issue 9 - Spring 2018 | Page 5

A Note from the President
By Samuel J. Supalla
Signing as Part of American History
On behalf of the Society for ASL organization, I would like to point out that signing may have
played a bigger role in American history, more than anyone has actually noted until now. In the
contemporary literature, signing seems to be associated with deaf people, however there is more to
this picture than meets the eye. The current emphasis on deafness (or disability) associated with
signing is a slippery slope, one that creates the notion that this communicative behavior is peculiar and
perhaps undesirable. As President of this organization, I believe it is imperative that society becomes
more aware of signing and its impact on the history of the country. This will ultimately help to improve
the outlook and perceptions about deaf people.
There is one well-known episode in American history: The Lewis and Clark Expedition from
1804 through 1806, that helps to make my point. I am referring to a book entitled, Lewis and Clark:
From the Rockies to the Pacific, which is an official publication of the National Council of the Lewis and
Clark Bicentennial 2003-2006. Dr. Stephen D. Beckham, a professor of Lewis and Clark College in
Portland, Oregon wrote the book based on his expertise on the topic. Unlike other literature on the
expedition that I have read in the past, Dr. Beckham decided to include dozens of excerpts from the
journal of Captain Clark. It was Captain Clark's descriptions regarding the importance of American
Indian Sign Language during the expedition, that really struck me. With this rare access, I suspect that
Dr. Beckham became more sensitive to the signing phenomenon in his own research for other portions
of the book.
Please note that Dr. Beckham also decided to include Captain Clark's writings with spelling/typo
errors to provide readers a sense of authenticity. Below you will find several quotes to read. The first
three quotes are Dr. Beckham's own writings along with Captain Lewis' for the remaining quotes as
follow:
"The survival of the expedition depended on on the attitudes and actions of the Nez Perce. They took no
advantage; instead they played gracious hosts, greetings, trading, and providing information by sign language to
the two captains." (p. 40)
"By careful arrangement and adroit communication via sign language, the captains lined up three Nez Perce men to
take charge of their [horses]." (p. 40)
"The Indians of the area had heard about [Lewis and Clark's expedition] from the Nez Perce chiefs who had
preceded the main flotilla. Throngs of local residents gathered to see the strangers...They formed a half circle
around the expeditionary force, singing for some time. Lewis and Clark, by sign language, attempted to explain their
travels and friendly intentions." (p. 44)
"I observed an old woman in one of the Lodges which I entered. She was entirely blind as I was informed by Signs,
had lived more than 100 winters, She occupied the best position in the house, and when She spoke great attention
was paid to what She Said." (p. 47)
"In the greatest agutation, Some crying and ringing their hands, others hanging their heads...Set my Self on a rock
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The Power of ASL
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Spring 2018 – Issue 9