When the Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf

Renown deaf advocate Lane injects himself as Laurent Clerc to write the history of deaf work in America, which began in France. Briefly this review will attempt to broadbrush some of the consistent historical strokes with which Lane's account through Clerc paints. First, from the outset the seemingly natural language of this minority language group (deaf) appears to be manually with sign, mime and fingerspelling. It is also apparent that there were initially Christian, religious inspiration and motivation for equipping the deaf for the power of words, thoughts and thinking processes. Of this, I am personally interested and indebted to its inclusion without apparent editing. Further, wonder if this has anything at all to do with subsequent intrusion of oral method, which seemingly also has removed much of religious instruction from sign language? This oralist movement fueled by likes of telephone inventor Bell has an unmoral edge to it (if this historical record is anywhere indicative of truth) of not caring at all about the deaf as human, but more substandard, without much respect for their humanity at all.) What develops from these is the developments which drop this history off at our chronological doorstep. One might also check out the fascinating book by Winefield "Never the Twain Shall Meet: Debate between Galladet and Bell". This book will certainly give great historical precedent to this continuing and complex debate for the hearing outsider such as myself, providing much to ponder and investigate. Primarily, will seek out the deaf to listen to their perspective. That is the great value of reading this book. We must listen to their viewpoint and give it weight.

I picked this book up after reading Oliver Sacks's When the Mind Hears, and I am very glad I did. Without it, I might very well be blind to one of the world's most infuriating injustices: the attempt to gloss over deafness and discredit sign language. Moreover, the book is beautifully written and provides tons of information on the people and places involved. Everyone should read this book, because everyone who does will be motivated to help right the situation.

I'm sorry, but after having read this masterpiece for the second time (I started it right after I finished it), I can't think of a better title. While this book is obviously scrupulously researched, it reads like first-rate fiction: insightful, well-paced and -plotted, with fully fleshed-out characters. Plus, it lacks the heavy-handedness which occasionally marred _Mask of Benevolence_.I've got to find another book this good soon, before I start it a third time!

Harlan Lane has written another great book (see also his "The wild boy of Aveyron" and "The mask of benevolence"). The author traces the history of the education of the deaf, since the heroic efforts of Epee in the 18th century to educate the deaf by means of their natural sign language, to the disgraceful Congress of Milan late in the 19th century in which sign language was banned in favor of vocal speech. Lane's richly documented historical narrative forces upon the reader a shocking conclusion: Hearing people have rarely listened to the deaf. Were it not also full of tragic consequences, particularly for deaf children, this fact would be quite ironic, for it reminds us of those teachers who profess great love for their pupils and yet ignore systematically what the pupils say. Lane writes with clarity and grace; his arguments are carefully constructed, and throughout his style is lively. A must read!