Review of “Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language”
A few weeks ago, I read Tim Keller’s book “Generous Justice”. Excellent book by the way. In it, Keller referred to a story that I had never heard of about how on Martha’s Vineyard during the early part of American History there were a higher than average concentration of hearing and speech impaired people. Instead of viewing the deaf & mute as handicapped, the people on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, particular the community of Chilmark where a higher % of deaf lived, the entire community adapted and everyone spoke sign language. I thought the story so interesting, I decided to check out the book Keller referenced.
“Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha’s Vineyard” is an excellent book! The author Nora Ellen Groce reveals her research into this incredible story. Groce’s book is laid out like a disseration but I actually enjoyed that. It’s like a documentary. Even though I personally do not have a stake in the story of deafness, I love history, research, and genetics. But foremost, its the social case study that intrigued me the most.
Groce, a cultural and medical anthropologist, not only tells the facts she discovers but presents an incredible study of what a true community could be like. Because everyone learned sign language, the deaf were not limited in functioning as a vitle part of the community. People would sign as they spoke and considered those around them that could not hear or speak. It became a natural part of life to be bilingual. As a result their community was richer. I found it most interesting on how this made life better for those who did not live in silence. Neighbors who could speak and hear would sign rather than shout. Fishermen would signal to each other across loud waves. Children who pass signs in class behind the teachers back.
I highly recommend “Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language”. This book was written in 1980′s and may be hard to find though (except for a kindle version on Amazon). My local library had to secure a copy for me through an inter-library loan since there was not a copy available.
