Lou Ann Walker Losing The Language Of Silence Analysis

Superior Essays
Lou Ann Walker, “Losing the Language of Silence” scholarly essay; Walker’s main idea is that the deaf culture is fighting to survive in today’s worlds. St. Joseph’s school for the deaf in the Bronx New York City has experienced this fight firsthand. One third of their students now have cochlear implants and they fear those implants could be the reason for the demise of the deaf culture. Children who now have cochlear implants are not learning sign language. These kids are being put into public school with lip-reading instruction. Walker care’s so much about children being able to learn American Sign Language because both of her parents were deaf and they want people to know the way they speak. Walker also says “I’m hearing, but American Sign Language (ASL) was the first language” (169). Walker says “one in one thousand babies are born deaf” and most of those babies will not learning American Sign Language (168). Walker was fortunate to be born with fully functional hearing and she probably served as her parent’s interpreter when they needed her. Walker was able to help her …show more content…
Laurel Walters article, “Before They Talk, They can Sign” in Christian Science Monitor encourages parents to teach their children sign language at a young age. Walters reports “baby sign language extends that idea to help preverbal children communicate more fully through gestures” (3). A child who knows sign language can communicate more than a wave or a no head nod. Walters writes “research suggest that teaching a preverbal baby to gesture does boost language skills” (6). A child is able “to comprehend language faster, they were learning to talk faster, they were putting words together faster” while using American Sign Language (8). When a child can communicate by the language of silence they can speak volumes without saying the words out

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