American Sign Language As A Language Education Essay

American Sign Language As A Language Education Essay In this chapter, a review of the literature that serves as a foundation for this study is presented. The literature review addresses the theoretical basis of considering American Sign Language as a language, issues in the administration of modern/foreign language programs that parallel the concerns of sign language program administrators, national language program standards, the history of the teaching and administration of post-secondary sign language programs including information on the academic acceptance of sign language in higher education. Concluding this chapter will be a discussion on the state of the literature. American Sign Language as a Language The discussion of ASL and its membership as a language did not occur before William Stokoe, of Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., breached the topic in 1955. Many educators believed sign language was a system of pantomime or broken English. This belief was also held by the deaf individuals themselves (Miller, 2008). Stokoe believed that ASL was indeed a naturally occurring and distinct language ustilized by deaf people and could be studied as a language (Stokoe, 1960 ). Stokoe’s research spanned from 1955 to 1965 and covered signing as a linguistic system and signs as a part of the system. The first American Sign Language Dictionary was published in 1965 at the conclusion of the first part of Stokoe’s research. The focus part of Stokeoe’s continued research focused on the syntax of the language and its importance to teaching English to deaf children. Dr Stokoe asserts he was in constant contact with the Center for Applied Linguistics, the Georgetown University School of Language and Linguistics, and the Washington Linguistics Club, laying the foundation and belief that parts of sign language grammar paralleled parts of the languages they were studying (Stokoe, 1990). Stokoe believed signs could be taken apart and analyzed into parts allowing researchers and linguists to study how the language works, how they evolved, and how they could be taught. The work of William Stokoe was not widely accepted among all professionals. Since the 1970s many have argued against the language classification for ASL and especially that of foreign language (Stokoe, 1960; Wilcox, 1990). ASL was studied and analyzed without further evidence that it was a full blown language. Questions have been raised regarding ASL’s legitimacy as a foreign language. The following are a set of questions that are common among critics of ASL. (a) Isn’t ASL indigenous to the United States and therefore not foreign? (b) Isn’t ASL a derivative of English which would disqualify it as a separate language? (c) Is ASL naturally occurring and evolving? (d) If ASL is not written, how can it have a culture? (e) Is there a body of literature to support ASL and its culture? All of these questions have been asked over the decades and have been the major road blocks to ASL being recognized a s a language. William Stokoe effectively answered these questions over several years which have been supported by several other scholars in linguistics and culture. In response to the questions regarding whether or not ASL is a language, Stokoe explains in detail with books and dictionaries the morphology, phonology, syntax, as well as semantics and pragmatics and how it differs from that of English or other spoken languages (Stokoe, 1960). Wilcox it contains structures and processes which English lacks (Wilcox, 1999; Vigoda, 1993). When comparing American Sign Language to other accepted foreign languages one must take in to account that Navajo and several other Native American languages are widely accepted as foreign languages, being even more indigenous to America than ASL. A language need not be foreign to be considered a foreign language (Wilcox, S. & Wilcox, P., 1991).

Why College is important for a successful career Essay

Why College is important for a successful career - Essay Example Students who have attended college stand a better chance to succeed in their careers than those who do not attend college. Based on this notion, this paper will raise an argument that supports why attending college is crucial for career success. College can be regarded as a crucial institution that ought to be attended by students owing to the various benefits, which can be attributed to attending college. College is important because it offers students with significant exposure, which helps them significantly during their job search. By attending college, students get well equipped with the requirements of the job market and can, therefore, navigate through the job market with a lot of ease. Unlike students who have not attended college, college students can face interviewers with a lot of confidence and determination. The exposure attained in college makes students competent and this enables them to stand high chances of getting the jobs, which they may seek (Gardner, Jewler, and Barefoot 11-15). College helps students become successful, both in their careers and life, in a number of ways. When students attend college, they are assured of getting jobs immediately upon graduation. Students who attend college have better credentials than students who do not have any qualifications, which match college education. As a result, they are better placed to be preferred by employers than high school graduates. This means that job prospects for college students tend to be higher than those of other students. Employers maintain that college students have the potential than high school graduates. With this in mind, college students have a high probability of getting jobs. With jobs, they can improve their lives significantly, and afford high standards of living; as opposed to those who lack a college education (Gardner, Jewler, and Barefoot 11-15). The other way in which college helps students become successful is because they can earn a high income with a college education. It is eviden t that college graduates earn a higher income than their high school counterparts. With college education qualifications, employers will give a reasonable package to graduates. As such, they will get a considerable income that will help them improve their lives significantly. Thus, college education determines success in life; as the graduates can achieve their dreams with a lot of ease. Graduates who have attained college qualifications can drive good cars and live in decent houses. In most societies, success in life is defined by the ability of a graduate to drive a vehicle after graduating, as well as afford to shop in esteemed destinations and live in high class estates (Gardner, Jewler, and Barefoot 11-15). College can be termed as advantageous in a number of ways; in college, students can get a scholarship to engage in sports. Getting sports’ scholarship can be termed as one of the advantages of attending college. Scholarships for students who engage in sports is crucia l since it helps students gain motivation to study. Thus, attending college can help athletes and students engaging in sports get endorsements from media companies and other large companies. Such endorsements can be beneficial to the graduates since they earn a lot of money when they receive endorsements. College is also advantageous since it gives students an opportunity to interact and share with other students and professionals. As a result, the students gain exceptional expertise in their respective

Seated buddha in meditation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Seated buddha in meditation - Essay Example Currently, Buddhism is widespread in India, China, Korea, and Japan. The sculptures of Buddha describe the various positions and activities practiced in Buddhism during worship. These positions include meditation, praying and activities such as offering sacrifices and protection. Buddha seated in meditation, is one of the Indian gods created by the Sri Lankan artists. It is one of the art products of the sixteenth-century. The figure sits on a lotus-vine pedestal, deep in meditation. The body contains several lakshana, numerous auspicious marks that are a sign of his Buddhahood. The sculpture has thirty two conspicuous marks referred to as mahapurusalakshana. There are also eighty lesser marks such as the forehead mark (urna) and the flame protuberance (ushnisha). Other marks in the meditating Buddha are contained in the extended earlobes, locks of hair and the lotus marks on the hands and feet. The sculpture has a height of 48.7 centimeters, width of 36 centimeters, and a diameter of 20 centimeters. The figure is displayed in a glass case placed directly on the museum floor. The front end of the case contains transparent glass that gives a clear view of the sculpture. The sides of the case are made of brownish concrete for protecting the sculpture. The inte rior of the case is white in color, which creates a high contrast with the copper sculpture. Buddha started Buddhism, a religion practiced in India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of Asia. The work is made for the Buddhist followers where meditation is the seventh step in the eight fold path. The eight fold path contains the teachings that guide Buddhists through their faith in order to experience peace in this world and the afterlife. The sculpture is seated in a lotus position, which is the recommended position during meditation. The meditating Buddha is seated in a lotus position with the feet resting on the opposite thigh. The hands are loosely placed