SIGN LANGUAGE WORK - World Federation of the Deaf
SIGN LANGUAGE WORK - World Federation of the Deaf
SIGN LANGUAGE WORK - World Federation of the Deaf
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THE FINNISH ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF<br />
• That burning urge to find out formed <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> my first<br />
interest in Sign Language. As I read and asked questions<br />
about <strong>the</strong> language, I came to realize that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Deaf</strong> were<br />
perhaps <strong>the</strong> most misunderstood language minority anywhere<br />
in <strong>the</strong> world. This realization changed my interest from mere<br />
curiosity to a sense <strong>of</strong> mission. Hearing people <strong>of</strong>ten talk about<br />
<strong>the</strong> rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Deaf</strong>. Now, it seems to me, what one<br />
ought to talk about is not <strong>the</strong> rehabilitation, but <strong>the</strong> liberation <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Deaf</strong>.<br />
• I believe <strong>the</strong> science <strong>of</strong> linguistics has a significant role to play<br />
in that liberation struggle.<br />
• Okoth Okombo (1990: 59)
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