Sign Language Under Protected Status For Cultural and Linguistic Minority

World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) leadership of 2005-7 unveiled their ad hoc report on the partnership of the WFD and the United Nation on the development of formal recongnizance of sign language, ex. American Sign Language (ASL) to be under the protected status for cultural and linguistic minority, ex. deaf signers.

Before the WFD membership body and country represenatives convenued in Madrid (Spain) this week. Estimated 32 countries across the globe already had sign language of their countryperson under protected status for cultural and linguistic minority, ex. Australia.

Hopefully the United Nation finally approve the formal recognizance of sign language to be placed under protected status for cultural and linguistic minority in timely manner.

The remaining question about the United States's response to the United Nation's approval for placing the sign language including American Sign Language under protected status. We know how our own country under the Republican leadership's usual defiance of the United Nation's postiton on various issues.

When our native and acquired language like the American Sign Language (ASL) to be formally recognized under the protected status for cultural and linguistic minority. What will be the real impact of ASL under the protected status? Will there be any controvesty within the political, social and economic landscape in the United States regarding ASL under the protected status.

That will be a real victory for us, the deaf American community at large to be finally embraced with true appreciation and respect for the visual-spatial language from ASL to LSF.

The latest impact of sign language under the protected status already occurred in the "Down Under" (Australia) which the use of Signed English no longer possible implented in several Australian classrooms of the deaf. See that??

We have to await for the incoming reports from the NAD and deaf United States representatives after their World Federation of the Deaf conference. *Waving hands to real hardworking WFD ad hoc committee and chairperson*

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog