Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf FEATURE ARTICLE
This article is featured in Feliciter Magazine, Issue Number 5, 1999, page 302-304, edited by E. Morton, Canadian Library Association, emorton@cla.ca, www.cla.ca American Sign Language Literature and Deaf Literature Resources Joanne Cripps
Anita Small In 1965, Unesco adopted the view that rather than an end in itself, literacy should be regarded as a way of preparing man [or woman] for a social, civic and economic role that goes far beyond the limits of rudimentary literacy training consisting merely in the teaching of reading and writing. -'Literacy, Gateway to Fulfilment,' special issue of Unesco Courier, June 1980 A culture of our own to share
We, the Deaf community, turn to each other for cultural knowledge and fulfillment. More and more, we recognize and appreciate the unique talents of fellow Deaf people. We are inspired, for example, by those among us who are particularly eloquent users of ASL (American Sign Language), a visually accessible language that is acquired naturally in much the same way spoken language is learned by individuals who can hear. Drawn together by common experiences, needs and aspirations, Deaf people have developed a strong sense of identity and belonging to what we proudly refer to as 'Deaf culture.' Our literature reflects this culture, in its particular visual beauty, in the experiences and values shared, in the artistic uses of our language, ASL, and in the characters portrayed in our stories. | |
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