Gestural System is Being Replaced

As an American Sign Language Learner (aka SL2), you cannnnotttt tell me that your signing has not influenced your communication in English- in the Hearing world. Sometimes, when ASL just seems more appropriate (natural?), it just comes out. At that bar where it seems like wherever you stand, you are next to a speaker... At the museum where you just can't bring yourself to break the silence... At the coffee shop where you see that cute guy you want to talk about... And it just seeps into life where no one has any ASL competence! Just seeps it's way right on through, so that if there is any misunderstanding, I somehow resort to ASL (or what I know of it). For example, there was an Ethiopian girl in the building (someone's daughter) who knows no English. Why was I trying to sign "I'll be right back"?? Beyond this, you will see your whole gestural system start to be replace as your ASL knowledge increases. I find myself signing to myself, the way other hearing people might speak to themselves. I find my self signing when I think, for some reason, it has meaning to others, when really, it only has meaning to myself (Deaf people will tell you that too, haha!)

Anyway, there was this funny short story that my professor told us...
A man is out to lunch and he is reading the menu.... the waiter approaches and asks for his order, "What can I get you for lunch?" and he says, "Oh, tuna" as he signs FISH. Insert ::weird look:: from all parties. Himself included. "How did that get there," I find myself thinking when that happens to me. It just slips right out.

homework videos

Describing my experience at a "Deaf event" (ie homecoming football game! loads of old alumni representing their class! so cool)





Also, here is me describing a living room. I don't like it. But fuck it, just submit it already!

Ignorance is NOT bliss

Part of my future career goals is to bridge the gap between the hearing world and the deaf world. And inherent in this rift (as in ANY rift) is communication. Duh. But another issue underlying this is ignorance. As I have said before, I cannot blame most people for their ignorance of deafness, hearing loss, Deaf culture, etc. No one told them about it. No one sat them down and chatted about the challenges people with a hearing loss have to face DAILY when interacting with the hearing world. Nor about how effortless communication is with sign language (maybe). And I can understand that. Why would they have had that talk?

BUT if you are someone who works with the public, someone who is constantly going to be interacting with all kinds of people, you really should be more AWARE of these differences and their implications. Here is a short anecdote:

A hard-of-hearing friend of mine (for those ignorants out there, this is a self-identifying term for someone how has SOME degree of hearing loss (HL), typically less loss than more, who likely relies more on speech than signing (if any), who definitely relies on auditory reception, blabhalh. ask for more details)- this friend of mine was pulled over for speeding one day. Now in this situation, there are a few anticipatory strategies a person with some HL can apply. There is a finite number of comments this officer is going to say to you. And if you pay attention, you can figure out what is going on. Something like "License and registration, please" is likely to come up. Also, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" Responding appropriately to these questions may intentionally or unintentionally trick the officer into thinking you can hear normally.

My friend had a moment where he did not understand the officer's speech (which is done easily- a mustache, an accent, a car drives by...). He explained he is hard-of-hearing, and he asked him to repeat himself. Apparently the cop thought he was being a smart ass, accusing him of even lying on his license, which reads "hearing impaired." What the fuck?? Who the fuck is he? Because my friend speaks well and efficiently and appropriately employs communication strategies, he accidentally convinces people he is of normal hearing. The thing is that he isn't. There is a fine line, true, between normal hearing and mild loss, but at the same time, there is a difference. And for him, communication can be exhausting and a struggle, depending on the speakers, of course. Or it can be effortless and smooth.

No fucking help to that ignorant cop. He doesn't know what he is talking about. And he isn't making anyone's life easier. Nor is he protecting the liberties and justice of this land by being a dumbass.

The Story of Simon

A friend of mine at Gallaudet (hearing) recently received a care package from her family back home in NY. Love and good wishes were packed into cards and sealed with a kiss. Specifically, her grandmother sent a card with something special inside. She explained that she found something on her usual pew in church one Sunday. It made her think of her granddaughter at Gally and knew it was meant for her. It's a small flipbook some kid made-- pictures pasted on index cards, telling "The Story of Simon, the Deaf and Dumb Man," complete with pictures on every page. [Kevin later explained to my ignorant self that this is what is referred to as a tract.] [Also please note, in this context, "dumb" means cannot speak.] --

"[Sad-face] Simon was deaf and dumb. He could not hear or speak. He was very sad. [picture birds chirping around him, insert ::shrug::] Simon's friends asked Jesus to make Simon well and happy again. [cue smiling Jesus]. Jesus touched Simon's ears and tongue. Suddenly Simon could hear the birds and he said to Jesus 'Thank you for being so kind and making me well again.' [picture birds again and happy Simon.] They had a big party and Simon told all the people about his friend Jesus who had made him better. [cue dancing]"

Thoughts?
Simon admittedly was unhappy. I'm gonna go ahead and assume Simon had extremely difficulty communicating (though he did have friends?). Maybe not. Maybe it was purely a hearing thing, not a communication thing. Maybe he took advantage of communication strategies, like writing down his order for the farmer on paper. In any event, there was no sign language. However, he got his daily needs met without spoken language/access to environmental noises (minimal auditory reception). For some reason, it wasn't working for him. And I respect that. He asked to hear because that is what he thought would be in his best interest.

I do NOT respect this as an example of how Jesus is the most miraculous man to walk the land or the most skilled savior. In today's contexts, this is teaching our children an ignorant, outdated perspective of deafness. And the number one complaint I have is that "deaf and dumb" has been stepped on and dumped in the trash decades ago. Stop saying that. This is 2009. Wake up.

Though grandma had good intentions, I'm not sure if she really understand what is going on in Gallaudet's Hearing and Speech Center. And I don't blame her, of course. She was probably given some similar lesson about Jesus and deafness when she was young, too.

my headphones rock.

these headphones are so awesome. when i wear them, it really blocks out every other sound. It's like as if ear plugs played music. at whatever volume you wanted. without disturbing others (usually), and without others disturbing you. ya know when people talk over your music you are listening to. with these headphones, i can hear all the music i want, and it doesnt interfere with my communication, either. i just tell the kids in my program that i cant hear what they are saying, and we will start signing instead. that way we can still chat, and i can still hear my music. how's that a "middle of the road" perspective for you!

I am eating the most erotic chocolate.

Enjoy

Why is it so popular for hearing kids to interpret music? I'm not sure, but this kid beats 'em all. He is my role model.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ewitteborg

PLEASE see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbGFwtHMvto&feature=fvw
(even if you don't know a BIT of sign- it's for your own good)

From my ASL class

Describe BRIEFLY your life story (using LATER-ON and WRONG as a conjunctive)



Describe BRIEFLY you experience at and reaction to a Deaf event
see rathskeller.com