This study of four moderately to severely aphasic subjects found that success in manual sign training programs is related to severity of aphasia, that aphasic subjects' propositional use of manual signs rarely follows simple acquisition, and that generalization to untrained stimuli or environments does not occur without additional training.…

Comparison of Indian rural and urban sign languages of the deaf found that the urban form transmitted information primarily by means of appeal to a shared linguistic code, and the rural form mainly by appeal to communal nonlinguistic knowledge. Both languages employed effective and appropriate means given their environments. (23 references)…

This study evaluated the sign language skills of 17 adults with mental retardation living in community settings and their habilitation instructors. Results showed staff's sign language competence was only slightly better than that of the residents and was used minimally in interactions with the residents. (Author/DB)

Analysis of the responses of 42 hearing mothers of elementary school age, multihandicapped, deaf children to a questionnaire regarding their attitudes toward sign language found that positive attitudes were associated with high socioeconomic status, more realistic perceptions of the child's condition, a stronger sense of coherence, and families…

Describes the Albuquerque (New Mexico) public school system interpreter service for hearing-impaired students, focusing on costs and benefits, the University of New Mexico's program in sign language interpreting, interpreter evaluation, language policy, and interpreter credentials. (CB)

Observation study of a profoundly deaf person led to the conclusion that finger spelling and universal sign language could link deaf and hearing cultures. The complex and rewarding modality of finger spelling warrants further research as a cross-cultural communication medium. (SK)

Discusses the challenges of learning American Sign Language (ASL) for hearing individuals, including social-dominance patterns and attitude, grammatical differences, cultural differences, and motivation. Posits that learning ASL should be approached with respect and with the knowledge that mastery only occurs over a substantial period of time. (CR)

This historical article from 1887 describes the communication limitations faced by individuals with deafness, argues that sign language does not lead to clannishness among people with deafness, and discusses the benefits of sign language in allowing such individuals free and unconstrained social intercourse. (CR)

Describes fingerspelling as it is used within the American deaf community and the development of fingerspelling skills in deaf (and hearing) children, suggesting that fingerspelling is largely discounted despite its potential for linkage to English orthography and literacy development. Strategies for increasing the use of fingerspelling by…

Provides a list of teacher-training programs to prepare educators for teaching children with hearing impairments, a list of programs of advanced study for professional specialists, and programs for training interpreters of sign language. Programs are listed by state. (CR)

Examines the theoretical models and arguments in the debate concerning possible relationships between natural sign language proficiency and English literacy. It presents findings of a study with 155 school-aged deaf children that supported such a connection. (DB)

Two studies explored linguistic development in sign and speech of 10 youth (ages 12-16) with severe intellectual impairments who used manual signs (Makaton vocabulary) for communication. Analysis of semantic relations, lexical development, and word order suggested the children's language had not developed beyond mean length of utterance stage 1.…

The ability to attribute false beliefs by 155 deaf children (ages 5 and 8) grouped by communication mode and parental hearing status was compared to that of 39 hearing children (ages 4 to 6). Effective representational abilities were demonstrated by deaf children of deaf parents, whereas those with hearing parents appeared delayed, with…

Analysis of interviews with 41 service providers (20 deaf, 21 hearing) who worked together at three British organizations found deaf and hearing individuals had differing perspectives on the integrated working experience and the use of sign language in the work setting. Deaf/hearing relations were perceived as largely person-centered by deaf…

Describes how two teachers taught English Sign Language to 29 children (age 3) in a regular education preschool program which included 2 children with hearing impairments. When compared to 25 children who were not taught signing, the children who had been taught signing had significantly higher receptive vocabulary scores and were clearly superior…