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Braille varies with alphabets but as far as I know does not present an alternative syntax or grammar the way ASL and many other sign languages do. While large number of U.S. secondary school systems and a fair number of colleges list ASL as a foreign language I do not believe anyone teaches Braille as a language. At the college level Braille is taught as part of learning to teach Braille to students who are blind. There has been a resurgence of Braille instruction in elementary and secondary education. This is not the result of thinking of Braille as an endangered language but of having come to the realization the tape and digital formats are not as effective for the recursive and non-linear types of reading that most people use to acquire information and knowledge. Which ultimately may be a much better argument than the endangered language approach. L. Scott Lissner, ADA Coordinator Office Of The Provost 292-6207(v); 688-8605(tty); 688-3665(fax) HTTP://ADA.OSU.EDU -----Original Message----- From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LILITH Finkler Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 12:47 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Braille -language or text form? hello all. I am wondering whether people on this list consider Braille a language similar to American Sign Language or a form of text? On one hand, there are different types of Braille for people who speak different languages like English, Hebrew, Aramaic etc. That would lead one to consider it a form of text. On the other hand, Braille is a unique form of communication used almost exclusively by a specific cultural group with shared experience of blindness. Given the emphasis on digitized / electronic communication and recorded books etc, it seems that Braille is endangered. So, declaring it an endangered language used by a specific cultural /linguistic group might be of political assistance in its ultimate preservation. Has anyone considered these issues in relation to Braille? Thanks in advance for sharing your perspectives, resources. Lilith ________________End of message______________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about the list administratione should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page. ________________End of message______________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about the list administratione should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.