William C. Stokoe

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William C. Stokoe was a pioneering linguist and a key figure in the study of sign language. He is best known for his work in developing a linguistic framework for American Sign Language (ASL), which fundamentally changed the perception of sign language as a legitimate form of communication. Stokoe's groundbreaking book, "Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles," published in 1965, established ASL as a fully developed natural language with its own syntax and grammar, challenging the notion that sign language was merely a pantomime or a collection of gestures.