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Interesting Facts
Until a few years ago on
Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts America, the majority of the population
used sign language. Before Martha's Vineyard became a haven for
holiday makers, it was a busy fishing port with a small deaf community
amongst the locals.
No one is entirely sure how it happened but it seems that over the years the hearing and deaf children learned to
communicate through sign language. As they grew into adults, their
signing continued and was passed on through the generations. It became
part of their everyday language. The fishermen would sign from their
fishing boats to their wives on dry land how long until they returned and
what the size of their catch was.
The island has now altered as a
consequence of tourists and weekend home owners. However, there are a
few older residents who still remember when it was perfectly normal for
everyone to sign.
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