Are signed languages “real” languages?

Petitto, L. A. (1994). Are signed languages “real” languages? Evidence from American Sign Language and Langue des Signes Québécoise. International Sign Language Linguistics Association, SIGNPOST, Vol. 7, number 3, autumn, ISSN- 1091-9845. NOTE: This article has had an important impact. After appearing in the above, it was translated into French & Spanish by the “World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)”- an international organization in official liaison with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, UNESCO, ILO and WHO. The translations were published in 1996 by the WFD and distributed as a monograph to heads of state and government officials throughout the world. French Monograph, (1996). “Les langues des signes sont-elles de “vraies” langues? Une réponse probante issue de l’étude de l’American Sign Language et de la Langue des Signes Québécoise.” Spanish Monograph, (1996). “Son Las Lenguas De Señas Lenguas “Verdaderas”? Testimonios de la Lengua des Señas Americanas Y de la Lengua de Señas de Quebec.” In addition, this work has been translated into Japanese by Mr. Soya Mori and edited by Dr. Eiichi Takada and published in the leading Japanese sign language journal. Japanese Journal, (1996). Sign Language Communication Studies, Vol. 21. This work has also been published in India. Indian book chapter, (1996). In D. Deshmukh (Ed.), Sign language and bilingualism in deaf education (pp. 131-146). Maharashtra, India.