Seeing Language in Sign: The Work of William C. Stokoe

This biography tells the story of how one person completely reversed the reigning critical assessment of sign by providing that it was a true language with a full complement of linguistic components, thereby, revolutionizing the governing theories of all language research. William C. Stokoe's achievement was not easy, however, and he did not succeed overnight. Without a specific linguistics background, his observations were met with amusement in some quarters and outright scorn in others by hearing and deaf authorities alike. Stokoe's total commitment without self-agrandizement, however enabled him to persevere through the years. The book describes his efforts, and shows how he launched new thought on linguistics in general, and also instilled pride in deaf people in the USA in their newly recognized native American Sign Language.