[.ca] Seeing Voices (ISBN 0375704078)

Parent who used cueing method very successfully:
Seeing Voices is a useful source of information on the history of sign, the Deaf community, and the development of language in children. At times, however, I found myself in a love-hate relationship with it, because for all Sacks has done, he has left much undone. The book is composed of three long essays describing, in turn: the history of deaf people, the power of sign language, and the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University. The middle essay examines the beautiful, expressive language of Sign, which was described by Dr. William Strokes as a true language only in the 1960s. Sacks calls this essay "the heart of the book" -- his most personal yet comprehensive examination of the deaf world. As I read it, I began to mark passages that were unsupported by references or were in direct disagreement with my own experience and study. At first the marks were seldom, but by the end of the essay, they were frequent. My problems with the book seemed to have a common theme: Having guided us this far and identified ASL as a language for people who are deaf, he veers off into the flawed conclusion that it is THE ONLY language for them. For example, Sacks describes seperate encounters with two children, a five-year-old who cues and a six-year-old who signs. He uses different standards to evaluate their different methods of communication. In doing so, he is guilty of the same misperception he accuses much of the hearing world of having about people who are deaf -- he judges what the two youngsters know by the ease with which he can communicate with them. He evaluates the cueing child by the quality of her speech, but evaluates the signing child by his language. It is curious that someone so experienced and perceptive could be so cavalier in his appraival of deaf communication. Seeing Voices is an important book that makes much of the deaf culture visible to the general public. It argues convincingly that ASL is the language of that culture. But it is ultimately a love story. Sacks has fallen in love with sign language, and in his case, love is blind.

Incomplete:
Being a Deaf person, I enjoy reading about the culture, the history, the outlook of others. That's why I was particulary excited when I got my hands on this book. And while I was interested throughout the book, I found my blood pressure frequently rising as I read the author's biased and one-track-mind approach. He speaks as if all deaf people are the same and that one language is right for all. I, personally, use the language he speaks of, however, it is simply not healthy to presume all deaf people do as well. The largest thing he fails to even mention once is the fact that the large majority of deaf people became deaf after the age of 18. That being said, if you're interested in learning nothing more than what this man thinks and his delight in learning a handful of signs and communicating with us less fortunate people (sarcasm), read away. If, on the other hand, you want to truly learn more about the culture and not only what Oliver Sacks believes, click on the back arrow at the top of your screen and continue your search. :o(

Fascinating overview of Deaf Culture:
Oliver Sacks, the author of Awakenings, presents an overview of deafness and deaf culture. The book is written in three parts. Part 1 covers a history of deafness with the first deaf schools in France. The history examines the controversy between the oral method and sign language. Part 2 extensively looks at sign as a distinct language with its own syntax and grammar. Part 3 is an excellent synopsis of the 1988 uprising at Gallaudet University over the selection of a new president. This book offers a fascinating overview of deaf culture by a talented writer.

Very insightful book:
I loved this book by Oliver Sacks. He did an excellent job of introducing the deaf community and their fight for recognition. A must have for anyone in this field.

The Importance of Language:
Seeing Voices gives a clear answer to the question, "Which comes first? Language or thought." The answer, "Language." As Sacks retells stories of the profoundly deaf deprived of "language" into early adulthood, the pattern emerges: Without language there is no abstraction, no ability to achieve love or communication, and all life becomes an inarticulate groaning to have basic needs met immediately. There is no sense of time - life becomes an eternal present. The discovery of language leads to intense sadness as one realizes the lonely prison they have been in. In a long life of reading, this is the first book I immediately re-read on completing it the first time.