The Signed English Starter, A Beginning Book in the Signed English System by Harry Bornstein, Karen L. Saulnier (review)

Reviews Glasses," and #6, "Rewards and How to Use Them," are somewhat helpful. A good example of how to get a child to wear glasses and a hearing aid is included and should be of special interest to parents. Booklet #3, "Words and Meanings : Helping the Deaf-Blind Child/' and #4, "General Information for Parents of a Deaf-Blind Child," suffer from the attempt to write too simply . For example, "A teacher of the blind" is defined as one who "teaches reading and language to children who do not see well." In the discussion about the deaf child's speech development , the point is made that, "By his first birthday he is using his voice less and less. This is because he does not hear his own voice." No suggestions follow on how to increase or maintain vocalization. In addition, no suggestions follow the statement that it "takes time and patience " to teach a deaf-blind child such things as toileting. Overall, this series has limited use. The simple presentation leads to insufficient and, in some cases, misleading information. Sensitivity in providing parents with these booklets is needed. To imply, for example, that parents requiring large print would be content with second-grade reading matter is embarrassing. Some of the booklets may be useful if used with discretion. Pearl E. Tait Associate Professor Florida State University Tallahassee, FL The Signed English Starter, A Beginning Book in the Signed English System, Harry Bornstein and Karen L. Saulnier, 208 pp., paperback, Kendall Green Publications , 800 Florida Avenue, Washington, DC 20002, 1984. The Signed English Starter introduces itself as a first course in Signed English for home or class study for parents, teachers, and others who interact with hearing-impaired adults and hearingimpaired children, including those who are "limited learners." After a brief but excellent initial presentation of the rationale behind the use of Signed English, fourteen sign markers, the manual alphabet, conventions for name signs, and numbers are described and illustrated. The remainder of the book is devoted to the illustration of approximately 1000 signs arranged topically . The book is divided into twelve chapters, each containing signs grouped by category (e.g., Chapter 2, "Things") and into subcategories ("Things at home," "Things at school"). Within each subcategory illustrations appear to be randomly assigned to pages: one page of the section on behavior, which is in the chapter called "Descriptions ," contains the signs careful, smart, silly, strange, proud, and ready. This reviewer could discern no pictorial, alphabetical, semantic, or other organizing principle in that presentation. There is also no apparent reason for signs for colors to be in the chapter called "Leisure Time" along with signs for special occasions (such as Hallowe 'en, scare, witch, and card) rather than in the chapter called "Descriptions." There is an alphabetical index in the back of the book, but this is a cumbersome device for finding a needed sign quickly. One may argue with the criteria used to select a finite number of signs to teach first, especially when they are to be taught to a diverse group. Were I the parent of a deaf preschooler or "limited learner," I would have preferred that signs for words like diaper and powder be included, along with signs for bodily functions such as urination , and signs for sexual parts. As a teacher, I would be stymied by the absence of signs for math concepts (add, subtract, plus, set, multiply divide) and for basic words dealing with language and speech instruction, including the signs for sentence, word, language, speech, and vocabulary . For purposes of dealing with deaf adults, I would prefer that signs for counselor, income, and expense be included, along with signs for sexual functions, but I would willingly omit the three pages devoted to zoo animals. A final comment concerns the regionalization of signs and endings. While not a criticism of Bornstein and Saulnier's text per se, some of the signs and several of the sign markers differ considerably from those used in my corner of the world. This regionalization is an unpleasant fact of life which sign text authors should comment on and must always contend with. The Signed English Starter might be an adequate...