Chapters 32-36 For Hearing People Only

I want to first state…these were the chapters I have found to be the most interesting, answering many of my questions I have had hidden in my head, sharing stories that left me quite angry….that people could be so cruel!

Chapter 32 Can’t all Deaf People read lips??

            I to had the misconception that if you were deaf…..you had the ability to read lips! Boy was I wrong! I have seen many people “exaggerate his or her mouth movements and talk abnormally slowly” when talking to a deaf person or someone with a hearing problem. Many times I have seen on skits on television. Embarrassed to say that I thought it was funny….then. I have tried doing that type of “talking” across a classroom with someone else and when they would “talk” back, I had no clue what was being said. Never thought of how it affected deaf people. The statistic, that only 30% of deaf could read lips, was a bit staggering….thought it was more than that. Never considered homonyms much less the fact that a person’s speech pattern would and does add to the problem. If you are lip reading in your family, it is easier to read their lips than that of a stranger. You are used to that “speaking”.

            I have and can read lips from time to time myself. Either on tv because it was on mute, or if I wanted to know what someone is talking about in a conversation and they were not near me. (Yeah I know…eavesdropping). To assume that this is or could be the way a deaf person can know what someone else is saying 100% of the time is now a  pretty crazy idea. I learned that when lip reading, or as the book says, “speechreading”, they read the entire face and body language as well as watching the lips. There is also observation of what the person may be holding and or the surroundings in order to understand what is being said. That makes sense to me…makes common sense. I need to keep this in mind when communicating with a deaf person who may not know ASL and pass the word on to others so as they do not make the same assumption.

Chapter 33 Why don’t deaf people like speech pathologists?

            I think this chapter is the one that really made the hair on my neck stand up the most. I am the child of 2 teachers, and I can’t believe some “teachers” and or speech pathologists could act this way.

            I thought that if a child was deaf, the school system worked with them on ASL. I was not aware that a speech pathologist worked with them to talk. I was correct in that the final decision of whether or not a deaf person “talks” is theirs and theirs alone.

            I am sure, that as a parent, it is difficult to learn that your child can’t hear. I am sure that from that moment on, a parent will do anything to help their child communicate with the hearing world. As a parent you will need to have someone “measure and chart the pattern of hearing loss – its range, its severity, and the amount of residual hearing.” That is what an audiologist can, do as well as make the recommendations as to what to do.

            In come the speech pathologists to do their work. I know that a child learns to talk from what they hear. So how can a speech pathologist “teach” a child how to talk in some “semblance of the “normal” speech of hearing people”? It is surprising that there is any degree of success! If you can’t hear then how can you learn to talk?

            It really bothered me, as stated in the book, that some speech pathologists “have contempt” for the deaf clients, like they are “defective”! It goes on to state “there’s no point in exerting ourselves, since these deaf people aren’t going to amount to much, anyway”. This is where being a child of teachers comes in. I know my mother would never think that of any child with a disability. I was in school with children in wheelchairs, one who was born without eyes, and I, nor my teachers never once thought they were “defective” or not going to “amount to anything, anyway”! Somebody needs to get these people out of the classroom!

            The man who shared how he was “punched” by his therapist is shocking! I just can’t imagine any of my teachers hitting a child to get him to say or do something correctly. “Abuse” is right. Thank goodness things have changed and the speech therapists today are more caring and sensitive, not angry with the deaf student.

            The whole point of the speech pathologist, as I understand, is to take the deaf child and work with them to the best of their ability to teach them to talk. Hitting, putting them down, and in some cases humiliating them has thankfully gone away. The client, a deaf person, needs to have a good relationship with the therapist, not fear them as I sure many did.

            I wonder how the parents of some of these “abused” children felt if and went they heard about the punching and such? I know my mother would tear someone up as she has done a time a two when I was in school and bullied. I think I would react the same way if it were my child.

Chapter 34 Is it wrong to expect a deaf person to talk if we have heard her speak?

            To start, I am impressed that Mr. Mindel is taking ASL in order to communicate with one of his employees! I don’t know of many bosses who would do something like this. I understand his questioning, if she can say some words, then why doesn’t she talk in basic conversation? The fact that he is sensitive to her and does not want to make her do something she may be uncomfortable doing is impressive. Many others would feel that she should talk since she can say some things….”selective speech”

            Having just learned that deaf children are taught speech and oral schools concentrate on speech training over reading, doesn’t mean they are good at talking. The training is not always effective, not all therapists are good, and there is” no consistent standard of quality”. Even with the best of therapists, it is difficult to teach good articulation and modulating of your voice when you have never heard your voice. I can remember the times I have heard a deaf person speak, it is monotone and can be difficult to understand. I always wondered if they are deaf, how could they learn to talk?

            With the monotone voice and the difficulty of others understanding them, many deaf have made the decision not talk so they won’t get the weird faces from others and be humiliated. The statement “they know that their voices sound harsh and unpleasant” somehow surprises me. I guess this is what they pick up when someone makes faces when they try to talk.

            A deaf person talking is like someone dancing in public. Just because you can tap and chair dance, it does not mean you will get up on stage and dance for everyone. If you’re deaf and can say a few words, it doesn’t mean you have to talk in order to communicate. If you are uncomfortable doing it, you shouldn’t be forced, demanded, or expected to do it. Can’t imagine any one would make someone….but this book has exposed many things I couldn’t imagine.

Chapter 35 You’re deaf, how come you can talk?

            Some deaf people have good speech skills from their training, while some do not. We come back to the fact that some prefer not to talk, even when most have “normal vocal apparatus”.

            I found the 7 distinct groups and labels the Deaf community recognizes interesting. Did not know about these.

1. The born-deaf (hereditarily deaf) who have the strong Deaf culture connection don’t like to talk unless with family member or close friends. Then label “Deaf”.

2. Labeled “deaf-speech”, these are people born deaf or early deafened. Good speech skills but use ASL. Sometimes they will use speech in public.

3. The HH-voice label is for those who went deaf  in later childhood, kept clear speech, but went to schools for deaf after going deaf.

4. The “ex-hearing” labels those progressively going deaf or late deafened adults.

5. The labeling “oral” is for those who are a deaf person from hearing family with oral background and aren’t fluent signers.

6. With a 60dB hearing loss and can use a phone with or without amplification and are also labeled “HH-voice”.

7. The most interesting label is “hearing-in-the-head” which refers to strictly oral-deaf people won’t learn to sign and are against the deaf community.

            Maybe I have had my head in the sand for all these years, but to think that the deaf have been so rudely treated and separated is mind boggling. I thought we got past that when special needs children were mainstreamed in the classroom. To think that someone would insist a deaf person to talk because “we heard you say other words” is crazy. It’s kinda like math. Many take different ways to solve a math problem, but as long as you solve it, it shouldn’t matter how you got there. If you are deaf, you can talk, you can sign, you can write it down….it shouldn’t matter how you communicate….but that you can communicate.

Chapter 36 What do you call a deaf person who doesn’t speak?

            I can’t remember a time when a deaf person was called “deaf-mute” or “deaf and dumb”, but in talking with my mother, she can. She can remember reading stories in which children were in state care, in deplorable conditions just because they were deaf! Parents were told there was nothing anyone could do for them so they might as well give the child away. I have heard about children who were in state care because they were crazy…and it turned out they were only deaf. There was the assumption that because they were deaf they would never learn anything and were treated like a caged animal.

            I saw a fact in the book that stated there is a 5% chance a deaf child can develop intelligible speech. Fact is, without hearing their voice, they can’t get the tone, pitch, inflection, or loudness a hearing person can. Many think they sound awful and thus choose not to speak.

            It is interesting that those who learn Sign as a first language, tend to “develop better speech than those who are given intensive early oral training without exposure to signing”. If you learn one language well, it is easier to learn another language.

            I agree with the thought in the book that instead of spending hundreds of hours on oral language, could the time be better spent learning better English skills in reading and writing? There is no crystal ball to determine what is best for each deaf child, since so many deaf choose not to talk because of embarrassment, shouldn’t we look at those facts and use the school time better and teach reading and writing better to them?

            I’ve seen Marlee Matlin on television many times. I have seen her sign and I have seen her talk. I even saw here on Dancing with the Stars! She is an amazing person and a great role model for anyone. As long as a deaf person can communicate, it shouldn’t matter if it is talking or signing, at least, in my opinion. 

Chapter 22 -  Bad Manners watching people Signing without their knowing I Sign also??

            Have to keep in mind that ASL is open for everyone to see. There really is not any privacy when Signing. When joining the conversation, you must not make it an intrusion. I could enter conversation if I feel it is a light conversation. I should tell them that I am taking an ASL class and would like to talk. I do run the risk that I may not be welcomed to all conversations. I don’t have to join but I could be present and use it as a learning experience by seeing how much I understand. At the events with others than ASL this was a concern….as I watched the deaf talk, was I being rude watching. Mom always told me not to stare, I felt like that is what I was doing. Since they know I am a student and learning, I won’t feel uncomfortable.

Chapter 23 – Where I learned sign language?

            As I wonder about the deaf and their language and history, I never realized they could be wondering the same of me. Why am I signing and where did I learn it. I wonder with the deaf if they were born this way, parents deaf, and the like. Never considered I could be asked the same question! This is their language, for them to communicate with each other and I am hearing and in a sense entering their world. Depending on how well I sign, they may be able to tell if I have deaf family members, in that I sign very well or learned in a college setting. The deaf could even rate my teacher. I would benefit from learning someone good to learn ASL from. There are always good and bad teachers and you always want to know the good ones.

Chapter 24 – Are the Deaf really delighted when “the Hearing” learn Signing?

            Some Deaf are very protective of their language and don’t want intruders. They want to keep it pure. There is concern of the Hearing changing it like Americans Americanize some other languages. It wasn’t that long ago that Deaf were not allowed to Sign in public and now people who can hear and learning, using, and possibly changing their language. I think I would be protective as well. There is the concern that once learning ASL, the jobs Deaf hold could be in jeopardy and thus increasing their power in the Deaf community. I never even considered this as a possibility. I had in mind to learn so I could help someone, not take or take over. I would love to Sign for Deaf athletes. To help them past the barrier and be a better athlete, not take from them. I see how this could be a scary thing for the Deaf.

Chapter 25 – Deaf people having trouble with English?

            A hearing person hears their language from day one. They learn to imitate, listen, and put words together as their vocabulary increases, but not the same for the deaf. Hearing learns spoken English then signs the English. Deaf have to in a sense learn both at the same time. ASL does not really compare to the spoken English. The way a sentence is in spoken is not as in ASL. I never knew this until this class. I thought there was a sign for each word and then the sentence order was the same. Guess it is why I had so much trouble in Spanish….sentence order and plurals and such are not the same when translated. Reading, writing, and careers are difficult as they are in English which is not the same as ASL. Never thought of this.

Chapter 26 – Why some Deaf people don’t like to read?

            When I saw this I was stumped. I know why I don’t like to read, but never thought it would effect Deaf. It comes back that ASL has no written form. Hearing learn to read by sounding out words, Deaf cannot! I thought “The Silent Bookworm”, that books would be something Deaf would enjoy since they can’t listen to music, conversation or radio. I never thought they are less intelligent! There is a huge amount of pressure on teachers working with deaf when they are hearing themselves. Hearing teachers can’t understand totally what it is like to be deaf and how hard it is to survive in the Hearing world especially if they are looked done upon. I seem to have had some of these misconceptions myself. I just assumed Deaf enjoyed or dislike reading for the same reason as everyone else, not that they couldn’t understand the written English.

Chapter 27 – Close-captioning help improve English?

            The Deaf who enjoy the captioning are the ones who have a good fluency in written English. Most Deaf would prefer interpreters. I can’t speak for others, but the times I have seen the captioning, I spend my time trying to read and then I don’t watch the movie or show. So for me the captions are a distraction and I don’t like them. After Hurricane Sandy, I would watch the interpreter for the governor of New York sign on tv. I was hypnotized watching her. I don’t know what the answer is for movies and the captions. It would really bother me as I would read and not watch. But should be something that can be done for the Deaf to enjoy the theatre as well.

Chapter 28 – Deaf Schools or not??

            I know education for the deaf has come a long way. At one time the deaf were given away as they were broken, when in reality, the parents had no clue their child was just deaf and could learn. I think the first deaf person I heard of was Helen Keller. It still amazes me how she learned. If I had a deaf child, I am not sure what I would do. I know I would do a lot of research as to my options and what is available in my area. I learned about in Warren County how there are interpreters in at least one elementary school. I would want the mainstreamed as much as possible yet I would have tutors to work with my child and me as a parent. Things have come a long way in educating children. I can only hope I make the right decision if and when the time comes.

Chapter 29 – Movement to close residential schools for the deaf???

            I wondered about the overall education in a residential school? Yes the teaching of ASL but the teaching of all the other subjects is a concern. It is difficult to get good teachers in many public schools due to pay and I’m sure the pay in residential isn’t much better. I have concern of not being with hearing children. This is not the real world. At some point the Deaf children in residential with be with the hearing. They will need a job, buy car, a house, and it goes on. They will be doing this in the hearing world. Is it good to be away from what they will be living in the rest of their lives. I am not in favor of residential because it is not a real world experience. Schools need to hire more interpreters as needed for the deaf students in their school.

Chapter 30 – Best place to find information about deafness?

            The first place I would go to in the internet and Google  it. I have looked some things up from time to time. In my area I have no clue where there are agencies that support the deaf. I think I thought that it was common and could be found. I do notice that on the McDonald drive thru you are asked to pull forward if you are hearing impaired. I see a lot of things for the blind but just assumed there were things for the deaf. I am learning I was terribly wrong.

Deaf Quiz – I am glad I read these chapters before I took the quiz! I did well since I read the chapters and have learned I didn’t know much about the deaf!

Chapter 31 – Learning problems and recognizing hearing disabled children??

            There seem to be many books available that can assist teachers who work with disabled children and hearing problems. I do know that in some instances autistic children are taught some signs to assist the communication between the teachers and children. Some behavioral children are also taught some basic command signs to keep them focused. The is much information out there. Just taking the time to research.

Chapters 11-21 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 11 - I heard that there are new, nonracist signs for Korean, Chinese, and Japanese that don’t involve reference to slanting eyes. Would you please describe these, and any other new signs regarding ethnicity or nationality that come to mind?

            ASL is always evolving and old signs are being replaced by new signs. There is the sexist, racist, ethnic and religious bias as in other languages. In many sign languages, the different cultures are no longer a sign that include facial differences, such as slanted eyes, but a sign representing the shape of the country they are from. The cultures themselves came up with the new signs as they refer to themselves. Not all signs of different cultures are bad or offensive. It is up to the different cultures to change the signs for them to use for themselves and other sign language to learn and use them. Never thought how insulting some signs could be or that they could be offensive.

Chapter 12 – I want to learn bigger signs.

            To improve your signing, you  could start with the library however the internet is a great source to watch signing. You could also go to book stores to invest in signing books. To actually make bigger signs, you have to keep in mind that signing is normally from top of head to waist, and shoulder to shoulder. You need to stand back a little further when signing with someone else so as to have room to move freely. The main thing is to keep practicing in order to get better.

Chapter 13 – I’ve noticed that when someone uses the ILY sign in public, some of my Deaf friends have dismayed expressions on their faces. Don’t they like it?

            The ILY sign wasn’t really used much until President Carter used it since he learned it from some Deaf supporters. He was photographed making the sign to a group of Deaf people on sidewalk in a parade and it became a famous sign. The problem is that it is so overused. The actual meaning of I Love You is almost lost as it has become so used. It now seems to mean, “Hiya” which upsets many Deaf. Since it is used so much and does not have original meaning…Deaf people will make faces as it doesn’t truly mean I Love You. Never thought it would upset the Deaf….I now understand how it does.

Chapter 14 – I know it takes a great deal of practice, but do you have any information on how to better accomplish fingerspelling?

            Having someone tutor you can make a difference. You have to want to get better at it and as you do make the movements clear, not so much worry about the speed. Any spare time run through the alphabet. Practice a poem or song over and over. To do clear signs you have to have good dexterity, so practicing with a rubber ball to gain strength will help. The main than is to practice with another signer and or practice daily alone. Find something that can strengthen you fingers to sign clearly to another.

Chapter 15 – Should all hearing people be required to learn signing, and if so, what are the absolute essentials?

            There is belief that all children should learn fingerspelling starting in preschool or first grade. There are many reasons for this. Young children learn languages easier than adults, good practice for eye – hand coordination, good to have in an emergency such as choking, and it a survival skill for anyone in the case of not being able to talk to someone. Sign language can be used under water, used when you can’t even whisper like in a theater, or in extremely loud areas and can’t hear anything else, and kids can use it to pass notes in school. If learned, you can communicate with any Deaf on a basic level and if someone loses hearing they already know how to communicate. Never thought of all these reasons, but they all make sense. Bottom line is you never know when you can or need to use it.

Chapter 16 – Are there any home correspondence courses in Basic Sign?

            As of now, no. There are videos you can use at home if you can’t get with someone and learn and practice. This is the best way to learn, with another. Again, there is the internet if you can ‘t get to another, the library will have things to check out. You need to be with another as there are signs used in your region that may not be on videos or internet sites. There may be a college or adult ed class in someone’s area to enroll that will not be so structured. Best is to try to converse with another in signing practice.

Chapter 17 – What is Pidgin Sign English?

            It is a blend of ASL and American English signs. It is usually used when a ASL Deaf communicates with a hearing or deaf that doesn’t know much sign. There is difference in the grammar and the syntax in a sentence between ASL and American English signs. I had no clue there was so many different forms of sign just for the English. Thought there was one sign for each word and it was always used.

Chapter 18 – How do I know if someone is using ASL or signed English?

            You have to watch the person sign. There is a rhythm to signing and you have to observe. ASL has different rhythm than signed English due to the fact the syntax or word order is different in each. With ASL there is more facial usage as the person is signing and in signed English the person may be mouthing the English words. Very little mouthing with ASL yet very expressive with the face. Would like to observe each and make a comparison.

Chapter 19 – What is total communication?

            It is when a deaf person can have access to several useful forms of communication. It could simply mean the combination of both speech and sign / fingerspelling. Throughout history of sign, teachers taught deaf children communication in different ways, such as signing only, speech only, and combination of both. Today to have total communication for a deaf person, one must look at the individual needs of each child. Can the child learn speech at all, any hearing for the child?? Programs and teachers need to be top quality and above all flexible. What works for one child may or may not work for another when teaching communication skills.

Chapter 20 – I heard that ASL is the 3^rd most used language in the U.S. If this is true, why don’t all universities accept ASL as a foreign language?

            There is the thought that many universities may have misunderstanding concerning ASL. Since it is used in this country, many think it is not a “foreign language”. Some feel since it is not spoken it is not therefore a language and it has no culture. We all know these arguments are so incorrect. There are many universities and states that are changing the tide. As of press, there are 30 states that recognize ASL as a foreign language, Kentucky and Tennessee are two listed. ASL is accepted for credit in many postsecondary programs as well. The list is growing daily. Very crazy that it is not considered and language and having no culture…have learned for sure it does!

Chapter 21 – How do deaf people feel when a hearing person approaches them in public using sign language?

            The easiest answer…it depends. Some readily accept and some are put off. Much of it depends on how well the hearing can sign. Many times they act as they can and they really do a poor job, almost insulting the deaf. At times hearing interrupt wanting to help as though the deaf person can’t do something due to being deaf, also insulting. If a deaf person needs help, they will ask. You must use common sense. In everyday activities, they will not need help. But in a serious situation the deaf does know and will communicate that they need help. I can see how some well intentions could come across insulting. I’ll keep this in mind.

Chapters 1-10 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 1 What is ASL?

Gives the history as to how sign language came about as well as how it came to the United States. There is a connection to French Sign Language. Found it interesting how it was brought to the US. Spoke about how Gallaudet began working with a deaf neighboring girl, and her parents enabled him to go over seas and learn  sign language. Gallaudet and another man, Clerc, came to US and begin a school for deaf people. Gallaudet’s children continued the work their father started, his son was the first president of Gallaudet University. I found it interesting that there was a large population in the Martha Vineyard area that were deaf and it was genetic.

Chapter 2 Is there one sign language for all countries?

The answer to this question is NO! There are even variations of sign language from city to city in parts of Europe. ASL is used in Canada…didn’t know that. There is sign language all over the world, and many have connections to FSL. What is an acceptable sign in one language….can be an obscenity in another language. There is a kind of International sign language – Gestuno – that has general signs.

Chapter 3 Is there any similarity between Braille and ASL?

No! ASL seeing the sign and braille is feeling raised bumps for letters. ASL is motion to represent something with some spelling.

Chapter 4 Wasn’t French Sign Language invented by the Abbe de l Epee?

No….it was invented by deaf people. He founded a school for deaf. Knew it was important to the deaf. Connected with one of the men who brought FSL to US and inturn created ASL.

Chapter 5 Why Isn’t ASL like British Sign Language?

They were developed from different sources. British is from deaf from British Isles, New Zealand, and Australia where ASL is from the French. BSL uses two hands for alphabet as ASL uses one hand. Loved the part that Princess Diana worked to learn sign language to speak to deaf British people. She was an amazing person.

Chapter 6 Can you explain the sentence structure of ASL? Is it a result of it’s French background?

60% of ASL is from the FSL. The face is use quite a bit in signing.

Chapter 7 Is ASL a written language? Can it be translated to written English?

There is no written form. It is movement for words. No need to write as you cannot learn it from pictures. You have to watch and participate to learn the language.

Chapter 8 How do deaf people learn to sign language?

They learn it from each other. 90% of deaf use sign language as they learned it at schools for deaf and thus each other. Best way to learn it is to live it daily. Live person to person communication is the best way.

Chapter 9 Can people who are deaf from birth appreciate jokes and puns that involve homonyms?

Not really. Humor for deaf is visually based: mime, gesture, cinematic effects and sign play are what is funny for them. Trying to translate puns and wordplay with signs or fingerspelling doesn’t work well. I never even thought of how humor would be different to a deaf person.

Chapter 10 Are there such things as accents among signers from different area of the country or world?

Yes. Every one signs differently….in there own style. Depending on what part of the country you live in you may have a slightly different sign for the same word. There is sign language for white and blue collared people. Sometimes it is difficult to “understand” the signs in different parts. I just figured every one who signs ASL used the same motions.