Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language

Hereditary Deafness on Martha’s Vineyard

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Linguistics
Cover of the book Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language by Nora Ellen GROCE, Harvard University Press
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Author: Nora Ellen GROCE ISBN: 9780674503977
Publisher: Harvard University Press Publication: June 30, 2009
Imprint: Harvard University Press Language: English
Author: Nora Ellen GROCE
ISBN: 9780674503977
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Publication: June 30, 2009
Imprint: Harvard University Press
Language: English

From the seventeenth century to the early years of the twentieth, the population of Martha’s Vineyard manifested an extremely high rate of profound hereditary deafness. In stark contrast to the experience of most deaf people in our own society, the Vineyarders who were born deaf were so thoroughly integrated into the daily life of the community that they were not seen—and did not see themselves—as handicapped or as a group apart. Deaf people were included in all aspects of life, such as town politics, jobs, church affairs, and social life. How was this possible? On the Vineyard, hearing and deaf islanders alike grew up speaking sign language. This unique sociolinguistic adaptation meant that the usual barriers to communication between the hearing and the deaf, which so isolate many deaf people today, did not exist.

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From the seventeenth century to the early years of the twentieth, the population of Martha’s Vineyard manifested an extremely high rate of profound hereditary deafness. In stark contrast to the experience of most deaf people in our own society, the Vineyarders who were born deaf were so thoroughly integrated into the daily life of the community that they were not seen—and did not see themselves—as handicapped or as a group apart. Deaf people were included in all aspects of life, such as town politics, jobs, church affairs, and social life. How was this possible? On the Vineyard, hearing and deaf islanders alike grew up speaking sign language. This unique sociolinguistic adaptation meant that the usual barriers to communication between the hearing and the deaf, which so isolate many deaf people today, did not exist.

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