The Other Side of Silence: Sign Language and the Deaf Community in America [Paperback]

Arden Neisser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1990 | ISBN-10: 0930323645 | ISBN-13: 978-0930323646 | Edition: 1st

The Other Side of Silence explores the Deaf community through telling interviews and research from across the country.

In widely varying encounters, Neisser heard Deaf individuals recall how their teachers suppressed ASL, how linguists foster conflicting theories, and how various institutions of the deaf dilute ASL to suit hearing patrons. This seminal book reveals the warmth, creativity, and resilience of Deaf people, and offers an update of the community today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: Gallaudet University Press; 1st edition (March 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930323645
• ISBN-13: 978-0930323646
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recomended, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Other Side of Silence: Sign Language and the Deaf Community in America (Paperback)

This book gave a good insight into many of the issues of the Deaf Community. I enjoyed the many interviews with famous Deaf and hearing members of the Community. The book was not light or airy in content, but gave a good portion of facts in an easily understood manner. I recomend this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book to add to your library, November 2, 2003

By 

Interpreterboy "signmonkey" (Lakewood, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Side of Silence: Sign Language and the Deaf Community in America (Paperback)

The other side of silence is a well written and researched book. It seems that now-a-days books about the Deaf and the Deaf community fall into either the oralist or manualist camp, with very little falling in the center. As a sign language interpreter I am biased (of course) towards the manualist view, and generally dismiss oralist themed books out of hand. However, I was pleased and fascinated to read a thoughtful and unbiased exploration of both sides of the age old argument.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Yet Challenging Read, September 1, 2003

By 

Tom "Tom" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Side of Silence: Sign Language and the Deaf Community in America (Paperback)

Though no easy read, this book lets you peek into the world that Deaf individuals (such as I) encounter. It shows you first hand the discrimination that deaf and hard of hearing people experience on a daily basis. It tells of such issues as oralism and making American Sign Language known as the foreign language that it is (and not simply "English on the hands").

If you want to know more about the Deaf world, this book is full of interesting information, but be warned that you may have moments where you must return to the previous page to fully understand what you just read. Not for the light-hearted reader, this book is highly recommended by this Deafie. :v)