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From:  Bill Reese
Date:  Thu Jul 6, 2000  3:42 am
Subject:  Re: Lucky - Dictionary


Charles,

Excellent "put up or shut up" message.

I'll shut up now,
;-)
Bill


Charles Butler wrote:

> To Bill and all else on the list,
>
> I would strongly suggest if we REALLY want to see an all-inclusive sign
> dictionary in signwriting that would allow us not only to obtain a command
> of that language but also the understanding and study of it, the same way
> spoken language
> dictionaries do it now....
>
> .... then we better start looking at fundraising and publicity to make it
> happen. Valerie Sutton will not be the only person creating such a
> dictionary. She has too much on her plate already.
>
> To create the Webster's Dictionary, for example, takes hundreds of people
> thousands of cataloguing hours going through already published works to get
> usages and variants. To do the same for ASL (only one of hundreds of sign
> languages) will be an equivalent TALL order.
>
> Are we willing to be a part of the creation of that process, becoming a Sign
> Language researcher and transcriber, and putting down what you see so that
> it can be in that "all inclusive dictionary"?
>
> Are we willing to devote thousands of hours on computer and one-on-one with
> native Deaf signers?
>
> Are we willing to get through the barage of mistrust over the use of signed
> languages AS language by Hearies?
>
> Are we willing to record variants and regionalisms linguistically in context
> for the very project you desire?
>
> Are we willing to do all of this for free or next to nothing funds?
>
> If not, are we willing to devote time to write for grants in aid, service
> projects, fundraisers and the like?
>
> Are we willing to be frustrated by fourteen people questioning which
> direction the rotation arrow should go?
>
> Are we willing to see the same sign discussed fifteen ways from
> Sunday..."but I DON'T DO IT THAT WAY?" endlessly?
>
> If each of us can do all of this, then our names must be collectively
> Valerie Sutton, as she's been doing it for 25 years.
>
> If we can do any part of this, she will be eternally grateful for our
> efforts.
>
> Charles Butler

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