The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

Passage 361Copyright © Cengage Learning. All Right Reserved.They typically developed only primitive signs to communicate. But in1977 all that changed. Deaf children finally came together and, in anamazing feat of human intelligence, created the world’s newest language!How did this happen? The newly installed Sandinista governmentdecided to establish the first Nicaraguan schools for the deaf. Severalhundred children were enrolled, but (3) the instruction was patheticallyineffective. Based largely on finger spelling, the methods required knowledgeof the alphabet, which deaf children did not possess. The teachershad terrible problems communicating with the children.After a few months, though, the teachers began to notice that, in thehalls and at recess, (4) the children were making conspicuous gestures toeach other. These appeared to be a form of communication, but only the childrenunderstood them. (5) Was this an anomaly or a new language? Facultyinvited linguist Judy Kegl in to study what was happening.Kegl’s work with the children showed that, despite the unsuitable instructionin the school, (6) simply bringing the children together hadenormously beneficial effects. Beginning with a simple system of signs,the children had created their own communication system!Most amazing, (7) the children’s inability to hear or speak did notimpede language creation. Children communicated with one anotherusing their own, silent language. This language, which Kegl labeledNicaraguan Sign Language (NSL), became more and more complex.(8) Its development was expedited as additional, younger children cameinto the community. Using the language taught to them by older children,the new users added layers of complexity. The language started to useadvanced features such as subject-verb agreement and verb tenses.The students are able to communicate complex ideas. Nine-year-oldYuri Maujia asks, “When are the alligators going to wake up? Every timeI come to the park they are asleep.” Twenty-year-old Anselmo Alemancomments on chess, “It’s like war. You must concentrate or you lose.” Incontrast, a boy who has stayed at home and has not mastered NSL makesonly personal signs for “catch,” “tree,” “river,” and a gestured “whack.”Most linguists think that young children have the inborn capabilityto create language. (9) The development of NSL is auspicious evidencefor this theory. The younger the children, the more of this language abilitythey have. In fact, everyday experience indicates that young children learnnew languages easily, whereas adults struggle.Unfortunately, the unique opportunity to study a newborn languagehas resulted in some controversy. In an effort to protect the newlanguage of NSL, linguists like Judy Kegl have not tried to teachAmerican Sign Language (ASL) to these children. ASL is used aroundthe world for deaf children, and many argue that Nicaraguan childrenshould learn it, too. Failure to teach the Nicaraguan children ASL is, inthe opinion of some, (10) an almost malicious attempt to isolate them.Others defend Kegl and her coworkers. In fact, Kegl has been abenefactor to the Nicaraguan deaf community. Her organization helpedto establish a school where the children are taught entirely by deaf teachers,the very people who can best empathize with them.