Marcus Petz investigates
How can we develop a universal sign language for all people?
Discussion
Andrius: Theory Translator has an example of the three minds relating gesture (first mind) and speech (second mind). Namely, David McNeill has a book, Hand and Mind: What Gestures Reveal About Thought.
Seen on Facebook
Deaf Mosaic · Stephen Iliffe ·
·
- ASTONISHING FIRST DESCRIPTION OF SIGN LANGUAGE - IN 1576 AT LEICESTER WEDDING ***
In another deep-dive into my home city of Leicester's deaf history, here's a story from almost 450 years ago - during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. ________ On 15th February 1576, St Martin's Church (now Leicester Cathedral) held the wedding of a deaf man Thomas Tillsye and his bride Ursula Russell. As the hand-written entry into the local marriage registry explains: 'Thomas Tillsye and Ursula Russell were marryed: and because Thomas is naturally deafe and also dumbe... for the expression of his minde instead of words [he] used these signs…' Amazingly, the registry then describes the actual signs used by Thomas: 'First he embraced her with his armes, and took her by the hande, putt a ring upon her finger and layde his hande upon her harte, and held his hands towards heaven; and to show his continuance to dwell with her to his lyfes ende he did it by closing of his eyes with his hands and digging out of the earthe with his foote, and pulling as though he would ring a bell, with diverse other signs approved.' ________ At this time, Thomas and Ursula would have no idea that five centuries later, they'd have a such a cherished part in our deaf history. For this is the earliest-known description of individual signs used by British deaf people. Now, plans are being made in Leicester to celebrate next year's 450th anniversary of this remarkable milestone in the history of sign language! Watch this space! ________ Source: Leicestershire Marriages and Banns, Leicester Record Office, Archive ref: DE1564/5. [Image generated by AI to simulate a late 16th-century marriage ceremony with the deaf groom raising his hands towards God.]
Animal languages - more than merely sound also conceptual variation
Writing system like comics - can mime be a language too?
https://thelanguagecloset.com/2024/01/27/the-writing-systems-that-resemble-comics-pt-1/
Kung! signs for animals
https://collections.peabody.harvard.edu/objects/details/781178