The Study of Signed Languages: Essays in Honor of William C. Stokoe

The late William C. Stokoe changed the landscape of linguistic inquiry when, in the mid-1960s, he began to prove that signed languages, particularly American Sign Language, met all criteria to constitute genuine languages. At that time, most scholars rejected Stokoe's theories outright. But, in 1999, many of today's notable researchers assembled at a special conference in Stokoe's honor to explore the remarkable research that grew out of his originalinsights on American Sign Language. The Study of Signed Languages presents the fascinating findings from that conference.

Part 1, Historical Perspectives, begins with a description of the decline of sign language usage in the late 1800s. Past research on signed languages and their relationship to language origins theory follows, along with a consideration of modality and conflicting agendas for their study.

In Part 2, Language Origins, the first entry intrigues with the possibility that sign language could answer conundrums posed by Noam Chomsky's linguistic theories. The next essay considers how to build a better language model by citing continuity, ethology, and Stokoe's work as key elements. Stokoe's own research on the gestural theory of language origins is examined in the section's closing chapter.

Part 3, Diverse Populations, delineates the impact of sign language research on Black Deaf communities in America, on deaf education, on research into variation in sign language, and even on sign communication and the motor functioning of autistic children and others. In its wide-ranging, brilliant scholarship, The Study of Signed Language? demonstrates the enormous range of influence exercised by William C. Stokoe and serves as a fitting tribute to him and his work.