Public Libraries of Suffolk County, New York

The hidden treasure of Black ASL, its history and structure, Carolyn McCaskill, Ceil Lucas, Robert Bayley, Joseph Hill ; in collaboration with Roxanne Dummett, Pamela Baldwin, Randall Hogue

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 167-182) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The hidden treasure of Black ASL

bibliography

Carolyn McCaskill, Ceil Lucas, Robert Bayley, Joseph Hill ; in collaboration with Roxanne Dummett, Pamela Baldwin, Randall Hogue

its history and structure

"People who first encounter sign language often ask if deaf people around the world sign the same language. Frequently, they are surprised to learn that there are different sign languages in different nations worldwide, as well as variations of these languages. These variations depend on social factors such as region, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and race. One variation, Black ASL, has been recognized for years as a distinct form of sign language but only through anecdotal reports. This volume ... present[s] the first empirical study that begins to fill in the linguistic gaps about Black ASL. The powerful cast of contributors to The Hidden Treasure of Black ASL considered three questions in their study. First, what was the sociohistorical reality that made a separate variety of ASL possible? Second, what are the features of the variety of ASL that people call Black ASL? Third, can the same kind of unique features that have been identified in African American English be identified in Black ASL? This groundbreaking book ... go[es] far in answering these questions while also showing the true treasures of Black ASL." --, Amazon.com"[This book], originally published in 2011, presents the first sociohistorical and linguistic study of Black American Sign Language. Based on the findings of the Black ASL Project, which undertook this unprecedented research, Hidden Treasure documents the stories and language of the African American Deaf community. With links to online video content that includes interviews with Black ASL users, this volume is a groundbreaking scholarly contribution and a powerful affirmation for Black Deaf people. This paperback edition includes an updated foreword by Glenn B. Anderson, a new preface that reflects on the impact of this research, and an expanded list of references and resources on Black ASL. The online supplemental video content is available at the Gallaudet University Press YouTube Channel." --, Back cover

adult