Deaf Word...

Aqua Blue, I understand your post just fine. However, I believe Shel is taking offense to it sounding like you do not consider us bilingual, simply because the term "lingual" represents to you a 'spoken language from the actual literal tongue'.

I understand both points (yours and Shel's), however a definition doesn't always have to be taken so literal.

I possess a Masters degree in ASL Linguistics from Gallaudet University. This program is backed by Ben Bahan, Scott Liddel, Bob Johnson, Ceil Lucas, etc.

If ASL didn't have any aspects of 'linguistics' (according to your literal usage of this particular term), do you think that the true masters of Linguistics, let alone ASL Linguistics specialists could or would have called it something else?

Who knows, our fingers can be considered tongues and our hands our mouths.

Remember, Webster dictionary is OLD :)

How about Webster saying:


>>> Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Deaf

Dumb\, a. [AS. dumb; akin to D. dom stupid, dumb, Sw. dumb, Goth. dumbs; blind. See Deaf, and cf. Dummy.]

1. Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate sounds; as, the dumb brutes. To unloose the very tongues even of dumb creatures. 2. Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied by words; as, dumb show. <<<


I'm sure some of us would not agree with this literal term also - even though Webster said or wrote it. ;)

Please keep in mind that there are constant new words, terms, and variations of such; appearing each and every year. As time changes, so do words and their meaning. :)
 
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I see DeafTJ. So then once I learn ASL well enough to communicate with it; with good retension capability, then I would be considered trilingual.

I can live with that. No biggy. I did take my point a little too literally.
 
Hehehe, yep you would/will be Trilingual. :) See how easy was that. :)

Also, if you haven't, you could check out Webster's meaning of the word "language". There's some shockers there as well. ;)

Just for the sake of the game, if there was only one word I could use for us Deaf would be "STRONG"!!!!!

Most of us have been through a lot of stuff trying to survive as Deaf in a hearing world.
 
DeafTJ said:
Hehehe, yep you would/will be Trilingual. :) See how easy was that. :)

Also, if you haven't, you could check out Webster's meaning of the word "language". There's some shockers there as well. ;)

Just for the sake of the game, if there was only one word I could use for us Deaf would be "STRONG"!!!!!

Most of us have been through a lot of stuff trying to survive as Deaf in a hearing world.
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Strong is a good word DeafJ.
 
DeafTJ said:
Aqua Blue, I understand your post just fine. However, I believe Shel is taking offense to it sounding like you do not consider us bilingual, simply because the term "lingual" represents to you a 'spoken language from the actual literal tongue'.

I understand both points (yours and Shel's), however a definition doesn't always have to be taken so literal.

I possess a Masters degree in ASL Linguistics from Gallaudet University. This program is backed by Ben Bahan, Scott Liddel, Bob Johnson, Ceil Lucas, etc.

If ASL didn't have any aspects of 'linguistics' (according to your literal usage of this particular term), do you think that the true masters of Linguistics, let alone ASL Linguistics specialists could or would have called it something else?

Who knows, our fingers can be considered tongues and our hands our mouths.

Remember, Webster dictionary is OLD :)

How about Webster saying:


>>> Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Deaf

Dumb\, a. [AS. dumb; akin to D. dom stupid, dumb, Sw. dumb, Goth. dumbs; blind. See Deaf, and cf. Dummy.]

1. Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate sounds; as, the dumb brutes. To unloose the very tongues even of dumb creatures. 2. Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied by words; as, dumb show. <<<


I'm sure some of us would not agree with this literal term also - even though Webster said or wrote it. ;)

Please keep in mind that there are constant new words, terms, and variations of such; appearing each and every year. As time changes, so do words and their meaning. :)
Click to expand...


Thank you.

I just refuse to follow the old and outdated definitions. If others want to call me wrong, fine but I consider myself and many deaf people bilingual. I dont care what anyone says. Smile!

Aquablue, I am not offended but now you get the gist of what we deaf people have to fight for with all these old and outdated views? If we sit back and accept it then the public will continue to call us deaf and dumb. That was what I was doing with ASL. I know u see it as a language but I consider it just as valuable as all the spoken languages out there.
 
I do consider ASL more than a valuable language; I love the language Shel90. I was only making a semantical obsevation. A trival matter really. I do not think, for a fraction of a second, that the Deaf (or their beautiful language) language is any less worthy than any other language.

I am glad that everything is clear now. It was just a misunderstanding. That seems to happens alot in AD between hearies and Deaf ones. Oh well.
 
It seems to depend on which dictionary you use:

American Heritage Dictionary
bi·lin·gual (bī-lĭng'gwəl)

adj.
1.
a. Using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency.
b. Using two languages in some proportion in order to facilitate learning by students who have a native proficiency in one language and are acquiring proficiency in the other: bilingual training; bilingual education.

2. Of, relating to, or expressed in two languages: a bilingual dictionary.


n.
A person who uses or is able to use two languages, especially with equal fluency.
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bilingual - Definitions from Dictionary.com
 
That dictionary totally supports the view point posted. Again, I was not saying that ASL is not a language. It is a language. Thank you Reba.
 
AquaBlue said:
I am glad that everything is clear now. It was just a misunderstanding. That seems to happens alot in AD between hearies and Deaf ones. Oh well.
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Not just in AD, but everywhere. We're constantly stereotyped as "deaf and dumb" by many people, among other stereotypes. We're perceived as different from everyone else, hence why we get asked stupid questions such as "can you drive", etc. That is why I took offense to this initial post asking to describe ourselves -- that is the same as you asking a group of blind people, or a group of people who have Down's Syndrome, or a group of African-Americans, and every single other "group" out there to define themselves. And the main reason I take offense to being asked to label ourselves is because, unfortunately, most hearing people do have a pessmistic view of deaf people. It's a notion we've had to live with all our lives, like Shel said earlier. Look at the Bullying thread for instance. I suspect many others here in this AD forum also did not like that you don't consider ASL a lingual language just because you want to take that definition literally. Because, for us deaf people, ASL is a spoken language, it is just not spoken with the tongue, but with the hands.
 
AlleyCat said:
Not just in AD, but everywhere. We're constantly stereotyped as "deaf and dumb" by many people, among other stereotypes. We're perceived as different from everyone else, hence why we get asked stupid questions such as "can you drive", etc. That is why I took offense to this initial post asking to describe ourselves -- that is the same as you asking a group of blind people, or a group of people who have Down's Syndrome, or a group of African-Americans, and every single other "group" out there to define themselves. And the main reason I take offense to being asked to label ourselves is because, unfortunately, most hearing people do have a pessmistic view of deaf people. It's a notion we've had to live with all our lives, like Shel said earlier. Look at the Bullying thread for instance. I suspect many others here in this AD forum also did not like that you don't consider ASL a lingual language just because you want to take that definition literally. Because, for us deaf people, ASL is a spoken language, it is just not spoken with the tongue, but with the hands.
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:bowdown: Great posting!!!
 
Good post, AlleyCat. Many of my heartfelt sentiments.
 
AquaBlue said:
That dictionary totally supports the view point posted. Again, I was not saying that ASL is not a language. It is a language. Thank you Reba.
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As you see, the term bilingual is not dependent on vocalized speech or the tongue.

Also, "linguistics":

WordNet
linguistics

noun
1. the scientific study of language
2. the humanistic study of language and literature


Not dependent on "the tongue".
 
Really, I mean what more can Aqua Blue say? He is sorry, ok? We don't need to keep posting more about this misunderstanding.

Shel, I'm glad you appreciated my post. I didn't want you to think that I was 'speaking for you'!

But of course I understand your frustration. :)

Aqua, if you think deaf and hearing squabble here in such a friendly environment, HA try the real hearing world. Ack! ;)

But yep we Deaf are stronger than most! Tough as hell! :D
 
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