Protect American Sign Language

Moving from the island of Maui in Hawaii to the town of Dallas in Oregon was quite an adjustment for me. Despite of the adjustment, I have embraced Oregon and made continued efforts, both in my personal life and in the academia, to protect the language and culture of the Deaf, namely, American Sign Language (ASL).

I began to feel that the world was being overtaken by high technologies and changing the way the world defines and respects the Deaf. I've developed another sense. With the help of this sense I can be in touch with the Deaf around the world.

The laws of nature, our place in the world as Deaf people have been studied by scientists and philosophers for thousands of years. For example, 2,500 years ago Socrates, ancient Greek philosopher, knew about Deaf people. In Plato's book Cratylus, Socrates questions whether signs by the Deaf are meaningful.

Along with scientific and logical assumptions, quantifiable research and data offer a new discovery that the more scientists and researchers advance in their project, the more obscure and confusing they find the world to be.

Linguistics is the science of language and culture. It has undoubtedly brought enormous progress, yet it is limited. Linguistic findings of ASL, for example, cannot measure our inner world, our soul, behavior and sources of motivation. ASL requires information, knowledge and communication.

Our world has always looked for answers to the basic questions of ASL: What is it? What is the purpose of it? Why does it exist? Do we want to dissolve ASL?

In this world of high technology, some find temporary satisfaction in cochlear implants, measures aimed at "listen and speak," or reducing suffering by being silent. This process teaches our world to lower expectations for the Deaf and to waterdown Deaf Education.

Our experience being Deaf teaches us that we have unlimited desires but there are only limited resources to satisfy them. This is the primary reason there is no way to completely satisfy all our desires and therefore avoid being silent. That is the subject of ASL. ASL answers the basic questions of Deaf life and guide us toward achieving unlimited satisfaction on a daily basis.

In my own way, I try to answer these questions from the sources of information at my own disposal. As a university professor of ASL, I formulate my own perception of the world based on my experience. Reality and everyday life constantly put this perception to the test, making me react, improve, or otherwise change it.

ASL is here to stay. I don't think I'm a lone "voice" in ASL anymore. As a university professor, I'm protecting ASL as fiercely as any wolf protects its pack. I'm ready to admit that I'm of the age, but carry the passion, eagerness, and youthful energy of someone half my age.

What have you done for ASL today? ASL is the inheritance I want to leave, a good world.