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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 December 1997
An invaluable contribution of scholarly papers on the bilingual–bicultural nature ofdeaf people is the volume edited by Ila Parasnis. This collection of 18 insightful papers is awelcome contribution in the context of recent national debates about whether deaf people areconsidered a minority group with their own unique linguistic and cultural identity, or consideredas audiologically disabled individuals. Collectively, the authors of the papers provide strongarguments in favor of recognizing the bilingual and bicultural nature of deaf people'sexperience. The contents of this well-edited book provides both theoretical and practicalknowledge leading to the empowerment of deaf people and to expanded views of bilingualismand second language acquisition. Reflective presentations by deaf people and applied linguisticdiscussions by researchers are combined to provide researchers and practitioners innovativeperspectives on the development of psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic competence of thisunique population. The authors also contribute to research on linguistic, cognitive, and socialaspects of language and literacy development.