Signs as Words: A Visual Communication System of the Deaf

<BODY TEXT="#000000" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#A5186B" VLINK="#FF9900" ALINK="#FFFFFF"> <CENTER> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="99%"> <TR VALIGN="Top"> <TD WIDTH="33%"><SPACER type="horizontal" Size="10"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><B>H</B>ands that move surely and swiftly through air, which assume forms which appear to describe invisible figures and occupy space. Faces beautifully defined by a wide range of facial expressions, and with open wide eyes always alert and attentive...</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="33%"><SPACER type="horizontal" Size="10"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><B>I</B>f at least once we allow ourselves to be captivated by this silent language, we would be at the door which permits us to enter the Deaf world. This is the start of our voyage that may seem to make something familiar seem strange, and something strange seem familiar.</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="33%"><SPACER type="horizontal" Size="10"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><B>O</B>ur website invites you to take this voyage where you will discover a different mode of communication and explore the world of the Deaf. We will show you their language and traditions, and how history and culture are passed from generation to generation through their visual communication.</FONT></TD> </TR> </TABLE> <P> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="5" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="99%"> <TR ALIGN="Center" VALIGN="Top"><TD WIDTH="50%" HEIGHT="50%"> <TABLE BORDER="3" BORDERCOLOR="#CB1A9A" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="5" WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="100%"> <TR ALIGN="Center" VALIGN="Middle"><TD BGCOLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana" COLOR="#FFFFFF"><B>Sign Languages</B></FONT></TD></TR> <TR ALIGN="Left" VALIGN="Top"><TD BGCOLOR="#F7D9EE"> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><UL> <FONT COLOR="#CB1A9A"><LI></FONT>Is the visual communication system used by the Deaf a real language? <FONT COLOR="#CB1A9A"><LI></FONT>Do sign languages have grammar rules and syntax? <FONT COLOR="#CB1A9A"><LI></FONT>Is there a single sign language used by the deaf around the world? <FONT COLOR="#CB1A9A"><LI></FONT>What is the role of the manual alphabet in sign languages?</UL> <CENTER><A HREF="index2.htm" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="../img/fwd.gif" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="15" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Go to: Sign Languages] "></A></CENTER></FONT> </TD></TR></TABLE> </TD> <TD WIDTH="50%" HEIGHT="50%"> <TABLE BORDER="3" BORDERCOLOR="#1C278F" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="5" WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="100%"> <TR ALIGN="Center" VALIGN="Middle"><TD BGCOLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana" COLOR="#FFFFFF"><B>Education of Deaf Children</B></FONT></TD></TR> <TR ALIGN="Left" VALIGN="Top"><TD BGCOLOR="#DEEBF6"> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><UL> <FONT COLOR="#2C3797"><LI></FONT>What are the milestones in the history of deaf education? <FONT COLOR="#2C3797"><LI></FONT>Have there ever been deaf teachers? <FONT COLOR="#2C3797"><LI></FONT>What are the educational approaches that involve the use of sign languages? <FONT COLOR="#2C3797"><LI></FONT>How can "new technology" be used in deaf education?</UL> <CENTER><A HREF="index3.htm" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="../img/fwd.gif" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="15" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Go to: Education of Deaf Children] "></A></CENTER></FONT> </TD></TR></TABLE> </TD></TR> <TR ALIGN="Center" VALIGN="Top"> <TD WIDTH="50%" HEIGHT="50%"> <TABLE BORDER="3" BORDERCOLOR="#FF7010" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="5" WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="100%"> <TR ALIGN="Center" VALIGN="Middle"><TD BGCOLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana" COLOR="#FFFFFF"><B>Technology and Information</B></FONT></TD></TR> <TR ALIGN="Left" VALIGN="Top"><TD BGCOLOR="#FFEADB"> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><UL> <FONT COLOR="#FF7010"><LI></FONT>How can a deaf person hear the doorbell at home? <FONT COLOR="#FF7010"><LI></FONT>Can a deaf person use the telephone? <FONT COLOR="#FF7010"><LI></FONT>How can a deaf person watch TV programs? <FONT COLOR="#FF7010"><LI></FONT>Are there magazines and newspapers written and geared towards deaf people?</UL> <CENTER><A HREF="index4.htm" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="../img/fwd.gif" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="15" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Go to: Technology and Information] "></A></CENTER></FONT> </TD></TR></TABLE> </TD> <TD WIDTH="50%" HEIGHT="50%"> <TABLE BORDER="3" BORDERCOLOR="#339742" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="5" WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="100%"> <TR ALIGN="Center" VALIGN="Middle"><TD BGCOLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana" COLOR="#FFFFFF"><B>Artistic Expression</B></FONT></TD></TR> <TR ALIGN="Left" VALIGN="Top"><TD BGCOLOR="#E0F0E3"> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><UL> <FONT COLOR="#339742"><LI></FONT>Can one compose poems in sign language? <FONT COLOR="#339742"><LI></FONT>Is there a theater of the deaf? <FONT COLOR="#339742"><LI></FONT>Have you ever seen paintings by deaf artists? <FONT COLOR="#339742"><LI></FONT>Has sign language ever appeared in movies?</UL> <CENTER><A HREF="index5.htm" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="../img/fwd.gif" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="15" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Go to: Artistic Expression] "></A></CENTER></FONT> </TD></TR></TABLE> </TD></TR></TABLE></CENTER> <P> <SPACER type="horizontal" Size="10"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Rosie, Helvetica, Arial"><B>W</B>e will look for answers to these questions and others that you may have. They will be given to you through illustrative panels, and you will find lists of suggested books, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers, posters, computer programs, pictures, and above all, films and other productions made by Deaf people using their sign language.</FONT> <P> <CENTER> <A HREF="mailto:webmaster.istc%40istc.cnr.it?Subject=Web site 'Signs as Words'"><IMG SRC="../img/mail.gif" WIDTH="28" HEIGHT="32" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Send an e-mail to the webmaster...] "></A> <A HREF="pannello0.htm" TARGET="Pannello"><IMG SRC="../img/chi.gif" WIDTH="28" HEIGHT="32" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Who contributed to the exhibit?] "></A> <A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="Pannello"><IMG SRC="../img/links.gif" WIDTH="32" HEIGHT="32" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Links to other web sites] "></A> <HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="99%" NOSHADE> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="99%"> <TR> <TD><A HREF="index.html"><IMG SRC="../img/back.gif" WIDTH="13" HEIGHT="15" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Back] "></A></TD> <TD ALIGN="Right"><A HREF="pannello02.htm"><IMG SRC="../img/fwd.gif" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="15" BORDER="0" ALT=" [Forward] "></A></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </CENTER></BODY>