Roger Ebert Learning ASL

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert lost his ability to speak in 2005 after undergoing surgery for jaw cancer [warning: the picture is rather shocking].  A few weeks ago, he shared in his journal entry “Why I'll be Learning Sign Language” that “After spending a couple of years avoiding sign language, I received this message from James Mottern, the director of "Trucker," which told me things I needed to hear.”

Mr. Mottern’s three daughters are learning Sign Language and he has been learning it with them, through the children’s video series Signing Time with Alex and Leah.  He felt the need to write Mr. Ebert a letter after learning that Roger expressly did not want to learn it, and hoped to change his mind:  

“...I am here to tell you that sign language is one of the most incredibly enjoyable forms of communication I have ever experienced.  Smoke I do not blow, Roger.  In sign language you can express yourself in ways that you had but hoped to be able to do through spoken language—or even the written word.  The emotionality, heart and spirit that can be conveyed in this manner has been an inspiration to me to becoming more open and sincere in my everyday life.  With words you can lie.  But in sign language you wear your heart on your sleeve—just about literally.  In sign language it is nearly impossible to betray your feelings to others.  There is a purity and beauty to it that, I am not kidding, will bring a tear to one's eye.  In sign language your hands and your eyes and your body language can convey thoughts so viscerally that it registers in the brain in some ways the same as film; I mean it.

“And I am telling you this as a truth: although I am still not very good at it, sign language has brought me closer to my family.  And beyond that, I truly feel it has made me a better writer! ...[I]n my opinion, beyond film itself, sign language is the MOST CINEMATIC form of communication.  It is dramatic, funny, tragic, illuminating, nuanced, and, yes, at times even embarrassing.  If sign language could have a filmic format it would be 70mm Technicolor and viewed at the Cinerama Dome!”

The comments are all very positive and supportive, and I recommend skimming over them.  My favorite is from Deaf actress Marlee Matlin:

“Roger, Next time you're in LA or I am in Chicago, I would love to give you a sign language lesson.  I've always cherished your kind words about my work all the way back to "Children Of A Lesser God" and I recall with fondness how welcoming you and Gene were when I entered the business.  I would be more than happy to return the favor, pay it forward to YOU and teach you some of this most beautiful language of sign.”

He replied:

“Marlee, that would be like [Maria] Callas teaching me about opera.  The times we've been together I've been struck by how warmly and easily you communicate.  I have the advantage of being able to hear. I should be ashamed of myself.  Mottern's letter and these comments have gotten me all worked up.”

Good luck, Mr. Ebert!  Learning ASL has been a fun and rewarding experience for me; I only wish I could describe it as eloquently as Mr. Mottern has done.