Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
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Date of Graduation
Spring 2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Department
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Advisor(s)
Rory A. DePaolis
Abstract
ASL is increasingly gaining acknowledgment as a foreign language in the university setting. At James Madison University, sign language classes have traditionally been housed within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. This research makes a case for considering ASL as an equivalent to courses in the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and argues that ASL meets the university standards for the study of a foreign language with regard to fulfilling Bachelor of Arts requirements.
Considering the linguistic history of ASL and the language’s accompanying culture, we will demonstrate the standards for teaching ASL are identical to the established educational standards for other languages.
One of the foreign languages offered at JMU is Spanish. Using that as a comparison, we will demonstrate that the cultural and linguistic elements of ASL are equivalent to those currently offered for other languages offered at JMU. This research explores these parallels as well as reinforces the elements of ASL that qualify it as a legitimate language.
Recommended Citation
Compton, Abigail E., "American sign language as a foreign language equivalent at James Madison University" (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 203.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/203
