Happy International Day of Sign Languages!
To support this year’s 2023 Theme, “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere”, I’m acknowledging
William C. Stokoe. His work as a Linguist and Gallaudet University Professor led to a greater understanding of sign language as a genuine language, not pantomime. In 1957, Stokoe and his team began studies of filmed sign language to identify the elements of language, the results published in a 1960 research monograph and dissertation, “Sign Language Structure”. In 1965, Stokoe published “A Dictionary of American Sign Language On Linguistic Principles”. This publication drew public interest in ASL linguists, leading to American Sign Language’s title and status as a legitimate language (which it always was).
In my last ASL cartoon before submission for publication, a young William Stokoe holds one of the ASL Dictionaries he helped create as he shows the ASL hand sign for Advanced Signing, Skilled Signing, and Sign. I used animation to open the book to show the Fingerspelling and English.
The S hands quickly throw open into 5 hands, Once or Twice.
While Stokoe’s image is in My ASL Dictionary, there was no room for his story. I’m happy for the opportunity to post it here.
#ASL #signlanguage #advancedsigning #sign #skilledsigning #williamstokoe #internationaldayofsignlanguages2023 #cartoon #myasldictionary
