In 2013 after my ASL teacher suggested I make a book, I dedicated myself to this project by creating its cover. I started with a portrait of the three catalysts for American Sign Language, Thomas Gallaudet, Laurent Clerc, and Alice Cogswell. This fit for the book cover, as it was inside their school that American Sign Language was born. To reflect the history of their stories, I have a young Gallaudet showing Clerc little Alice’s picture as he convinces his friend to return with him to the States to help establish the first school for the Deaf. I later added the ASL hand sign behind them for the language that would grow from what they started. Gallaudet, Clerc, and Alice make other appearances in My ASL Dictionary, but I felt it was essential that the book should begin with them. Tellwell Publishing generously offered an illustrator for my book’s cover. I stayed instead with my original piece to present both a visual of the artwork inside and the history of the language it serves.
#ASL #signlanguage #bookcover #gallaudet #clerc #alicecogswell #cartoon #myasldictionary
#ASL #signlanguage #bookcover #gallaudet #clerc #alicecogswell #cartoon #myasldictionary
