Samuel James Supalla

Samuel James Supalla
Born (1957-12-04) December 4, 1957 (age 66)
Pasco, Washington

Samuel James Supalla (December 4, 1957) is an American Sign Language performer, filmmaker, and linguist.

Supalla was born in Pasco, Washington in December 1957. On his birth, he has said: "Although, I really think of myself as being born around December 23rd with the help of my brother, Ted!"[1] Ted had helped with the creation of his name sign, which Samuel did not have until three weeks after his birth.[2] At a very young age, he began appointing name signs for others. Both of his parents were deaf and he had three brothers, two deaf and one hard of hearing. Supalla is notable for his storytelling performances in American Sign Language (ASL), particularly for his narrative in The American Literature Series: For a Decent Living. He is a filmmaker and a linguist “whose interest lies in the research and English development issues concerning deaf children”[3] and stresses the importance of a natural sign language.

  1. ^ Supalla, Samuel J. (1992). The book of name signs. Berkeley, Calif.: Dawn Sign Press. pp. 4. ISBN 0-915035-30-8.
  2. ^ Supalla, Samuel J. (1992). The Book of Name Signs. Berkeley, Calif.: Dawn Sign Press. pp. 4. ISBN 0-915035-30-8.
  3. ^ "Samuel Supalla, Ph.D." The University of Arizona College of Education. Retrieved 11 December 2011.