An important new collection of original papers dealing with essential issues and
research in the learning of language by deaf people. The book addresses issues
in the fields of second language acquisition and deafness, and draws upon the
fields of linguistics, psychology, and education. Of particular importance is
the relationship between the learning of English by the deaf and by hearing
speakers of other languages. The first five chapters concern theoretical issues
on language varieties among the deaf population, American sign language and the
biology of language, sign language instruction, and language education of deaf
children from both historical and bilingual perspectives. The second half of the
book