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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2009
Language can be acquired by means of the writing system, directly, without the medium of either speech or sign. Deaf children can acquire written language through an association of written forms with environ- mental objects and events, just as hearing children acquire language through an association of speech sounds with environmental experiences. This article considers in detail the rationale which underlies using written language as a native or first language for children who are severely or profoundly hearing-impaired. A perspective in terms of historical and current ideas concerning such theory, including the views of Alexander Graham Bell, is provided.