Links referenced in this vlog

• Preserving Sign Language
• In a Different Voice
• Deaf Intimitation
• Deaf Websites
• Preserving Sign Language
• In a Different Voice
• Deaf Intimidation (video)
• Deaf Websites

Michelle: I know this will hapenning again and again.

Ryan: Lauren, you made me cry a bit about our own Deaf culture. My former Deaf club closed about two or three years ago. I understand that technology enhanced our electronic communications, but it killed our face-to-face communications. I was used to be a computer-savvy guy; I start hating high technology since it makes Deaf people more isolated. Since I graduated from college, I am very isolated and my ASL skills decline gradually although I understand your ASL perfectly. You might remember that I mentioned speech and lipreading before. Indeed, technology allows me to communicate with my co-workers electronically, but I am almost always isolated during my breaks and at lunchtime. I am very blessed to have one wonderful hearing co-worker, who is willing to communicate with me via ASL, but she will quit very soon. What will happen to me? I will be like an isolated robot until I retire. Technology, speech, and lipreading help the hearing world, but not our Deaf culture. This is my personal opinion.

Wanda: Lauren, Thanks for expressing your concerns based on observations but I don't think there's an "outside world". We ARE the world with the diversity of people included. ASL will never perish, I believe because it's still THE language mostly used by the deaf community regardless of style or "English like" appearance. There's a wide continnum in the ASL usage. Styles and functions vary. Signing Exact English and ASL are so different so it's not possible to "combine them". ASL linguistic principles are still dominant in the sign language usage regardless. True about less socializing opportunites (no deaf clubs, etc.) but the technology wonders do keep us in touch with each other. ASL blogs have become more popular...they're an excellent avenue to preserve ASL and communication tool. Wanda Witczak

Jose: Yep, They're will be no longer Deaf Community Serve Becuz They're USED a MySpace Website is itself called deaf internet server can be there some happending. They're people who user a MySpace.com over 24 hrs a Seven Days has more popluation than same of an Old way life.

Shane: I agree with Amy. I live in Kansas, where ASL is scarcely used. VLOGs and VP are excellent tools for me to learn and preserve ASL. That is especially helpful in this part of the country and in rural areas. I get so excited to see pure ASL on VLOGs or VP because it helps me to learn ASL more and to preserve it. I used to do pure ASL, but I have lost a lot of it due to English signers. It is so infuriating to me to see it happen to me and to many others. So, in a way, VLOGs and VP do some good service to bring ASL to a broader horizons and reach out to wider spectrum of people. ASL Rocks!!! Long Live Deaf Culture. Shane Dundas Wichita, KS

Judy: It is true that there are still ASL on vlog, however, that is totally different because we are not physically in person to person, it's person on video to video. It is different. Unfortunately, I have seen more and more Deaf people using PSE instead of ASL. They do not realize it. They use sign language, not the actual American Sign Language. For example: English: I am going to the store. PSE: I/Me go store ASL: Store me go. I haven't seen Deaf people signed "store me go." I've seen many signed "I/Me go store" in that order. Just my observation, Judy

: Lauren, I think you forgot the most significant part of our Deaf Community with current technological advances. You mentioned about email and pager to keep us connected. More and more Deaf people are starting to use video-clips, known as 'vlogs' to preserve American Sign Language. There is an explosion of video-clips on the internet, especially DeafRead.com and YouTube.com. That way, ASL will not cease to exist, and will remain for a long time! You are what you did, you created a video clip! So we are not the LAST GENERATION. We are becoming more technological savvy and we are even more connected national-wide. I am bit disappointed that you didn't mention anything about vlogging or DeafRead. Amy Cohen Efron