Complete 11 pages APA formatted article: Analysis of A Journey into the Deaf-World by Harlan Lane, Robert Hoffmeister, and Ben Bahan.

Complete 11 pages APA formatted article: Analysis of A Journey into the Deaf-World by Harlan Lane, Robert Hoffmeister, and Ben Bahan. Following a brief introduction of the authors Harlan Lane, Robert Hoffmeister and Ben Bahan inappropriately polite Deaf etiquette, which includes the naming of affiliations (schools attended) and experience/entry into this world, the book describes the physical entrance to a representative Silent Club, using language that reminds us of the speakeasies and other secret or semi-legal societies that have existed throughout time. This type of description immediately calls to mind the questionable nature of such a place and illustrates the hearing world’s tendency to vilify anything not familiar to them. The rest of the book attempts to explain how this negative attitude developed in conjunction with the development of signed languages as well as to provide a more complete, more accurate picture of what life is like with the Deaf world. It does this by presenting various aspects and concerns of the Deaf world, both as they function independently of, yet are ruled by, the hearing world. How American Sign Language (ASL) functions as a complete language system, establishing culture and values in much the same way as spoken languages is the focus of the first segment of the book while the second segment is devoted to those aspects of the Deaf world that are still misunderstood or deliberately mishandled by the hearing world. The third segment is devoted to establishing a healthier, more complete future for those coming into the Deaf world by establishing a more widely accepted culture that provides Deaf people with a greater and more equal chance at success and happiness with adequate education and appropriate support.

Although the first segment is devoted to the discussion of signed language, the topic goes far beyond the mere communication of events. As it is discussed by the authors, ASL is a fully functioning language, just like the spoken languages of English or French.