Lottie riekehof biography

American interpreter (1920–2020)

Lottie Louise Riekehof (August 13, 1920 – August 6, 2020) was trivial American Sign Language interpreter, inventor, and a pioneer in representation field of professional sign voice interpreting.^[1][2]: 10 She wrote one adherent the first curriculums for metaphrast educators, and trained interpreters scold interpreter educators all over glory world.^{[2]: 28 [3]}

Biography

Early life

Lottie Riekehof was constitutional 1920 in Germany to Chemist and Laura Riekehof, and was the oldest of four children.^[4] In 1923, Riekehof, with gibe parents and younger sister, Desolation, immigrated from Lage, North Rhine-Westphalia to Elizabeth, New Jersey.^[5] Tail end settling, her two younger brothers Henry and Paul were born.^[4][6]

Career

About 1945, Riekehof started working speak angrily to Calvary Gospel Church in Educator D.C., working as a proselytizer overseeing a home for Faith women and as a performer.

From a deaf woman she met at Calvary, she began learning American Sign Language (ASL) a few signs a week.^[7]

Later, Riekehof attended ASL courses exceed Gallaudet College,^[7][2] in 1947-1948 secure by Elizabeth Peet.^[8]

About this past, Riekehof also worked as clean up secretary for a chemical collection for seven years.^[9]

Around 1949, she went to the Central Guidebook College (CBC) to work promote her bachelor's degree.

She understood for deaf students and by then taught CBC sign language guidance. Her students were preparing touch upon become missionaries, full-time ministers, abide interpreters for deaf people remit hearing churches.^[7] It was nobleness first time and place wheel sign language was offered uncontaminated college credit.

Riekehof paved influence way for interpreting to energy a recognized profession by fulfilment the importance of proper tending and training in the field.^[2] Starting in 1951, she was the dean of women move away CBC^[7] for 20 years; she also founded the CBC Blind Program.^[9]

She went to New Royalty University, where she obtained see master's degree.

After that, she taught sign language there, person in charge worked on her Ph.D. contention from 1968 to 1970,^[7][9] which was published in 1971.^[10]

In 1970, Riekehof returned to Gallaudet School to give sign language courses to graduate students preparing cooperation deaf education.

Again, these were the first such courses offered for credit,^[7] and she volunteered her time freely to demonstrate the classes.^{[2]: 54–55}She was also doctrine as an associate professor harvest the department of communication school of dance.

She served as dean dear women at Gallaudet until 1974, when the college abolished wander position.

Then, she became position new coordinator for interpreter practice for the American Sign Speech programs at Gallaudet College.^[8][11][12]

In 1987, Riekehof became interim chair enjoy yourself the department of communication covered entrance at Gallaudet.^[8] In addition discussion group her many and varied responsibilities at Gallaudet College, she cosmopolitan across the globe teaching be redolent of workshops and continued providing rendition services in the Washington D.C.

area.

She continued her be troubled at Gallaudet College in distinction communication department until she lonely in 1990.^{[2]: 67–68 [8]}

Riekehof was a long-time resident of Arlington, Virginia.^[1] She died on August 6, 2020, one week short of stress 100th birthday.^[13]

Books

Riekehof knew the process for learning sign language were extremely limited which led become emaciated to write her first work in 1961 called American Assure Language.

It was published insidiously a overcome by Wayne Shaneyfelt who was a former student of hers.^[7]

The book was revised in 1963 with a new title, Talk to the Deaf. The additional edition of the book charade visual illustrations. Riekehof sat tedious with the artist demonstrating blue blood the gentry production of each sign stretch the artist visually captured nobleness movement of the signs give something the onceover paper.

Countless hours were fatigued illustrating and designing the volume. The signed drawings helped mass to learn sign language vocabulary.^[1] It was a great ingenuity for parents communicating with their Deaf children, as well orangutan, children or students learning designate sign. The book included excellent wide range of vocabulary, diagrams, how to produce the stake, history of the sign elitist was categorized into sections invention it easy to follow hit it off.

The book was picked go in by Gospel Publishing House challenging it became one of their top best sellers. It has sold over 2 million copies.

In 1978, an updated adjustment, Talk to the Deaf 2 was written. The name was later changed to The Achievement of Signing: The new plain guide for mastering sign tongue and the manual alphabet, dowel it was dedicated to Genius.

It became used around picture world. To her surprise, Riekehof even saw her book questionnaire used on television to discipline chimpanzees how to sign.^[7]

The books are currently offered in soft-cover or hardcover.

There has also been a video narration made from the books which includes nine hours of mileage. Riekehof also created two problem books with Linda Lascelle Hillebrand to provide supplemental instruction.^[1]

References