Deaf Connections Day!!!

(TEST ROWS) PLEASE HAVE YOUR DESKS CLEARED OFF (EXCEPT YOUR COMPOSITION BOOK OR PAPER, PEN/PENCIL): ALL PHONES, MUSIC, AND OTHER MATERIALS PUT AWAY

---V O I C E D A Y --- POWERPOINT PRESENTATION - THIS MATERIAL WILL BE ON NEXT THURSDAY’S TEST, AND THE FINAL EXAM ASL in the USA:

The 3rd/4th most used language in this country!  Approx. 3 in 1000 have severe

 Average deaf person  20-30+ millions of deaf graduates high school with a or hard of hearing 3-4th grade reading level people in this country  While research shows English skills are best acquired through ASL, the  90% of deaf children majority of the medical are born to hearing community still encourages hearing parents to avoid parents signing!!!

What is Language? ---

 A real language develops naturally, when people wish to communicate

 American is a real language

 Deaf children need a REAL language beginning at a young age (ASL!)  To force them into =similar to the story of forcing a child who only knows English to read lips and try to learn while the teacher speaks only Cantonese, while every class subject is written in German.  - 30% from lips at the MOST (also view “body language”, context, etc.)  Speech Therapy- like piano lessons: can be great, but it depends on the individual.  Saying “algebra” should not be more important than understanding algebra!

 Learning a language (whether your What are first, second, third, etc…) some  Activates your brain!!! benefits of  Awareness and appreciation of other taking  Socialize with members of the Deaf ASL? community  Improved understanding of grammar (helps you with the TAKS test)  Raises at your current job  Vocational training- more than 90 open educational positions right now in Texas!!! (schools, VRS, etc)  Professional future- interpreter certification, teacher certification, increased business opportunities ASL class includes:

VOCABULARY GRAMMAR CULTURE

EACH OF YOU HAS A CULTURE! What is the difference between Deaf and deaf?

 Deaf (note the capital “D” = culturally Deaf  deaf (note the lower case “d”= a clinical/medical term, a diagnosis, degree of hearing loss  Culturally Deaf people are proud to be Deaf and feel that is a vital part of their identity, cherished as much as ethnicity,  gender,  and religious  background. Okay, now between these two terms, which is the culturally appropriate one?  hard of hearing: a term for people with a mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss. This group of people usually can transition back and forth between the Deaf and hearing cultures.

hearing impaired: This term is considered highly offensive in .

Just as "deaf-mute" and "deaf and dumb" are inappropriate labels, "hearing impaired" is an outdated way to collectively label people with any level of hearing loss. It does not account for cultural identity.

An appropriate exception: Elderly people with a hearing loss developed late in life.

This term is often used in the school and medical communities (from a clinical perspective).

Cultures have norms, ways of doing things that members share in common

WHAT IS A CULTURE?

CONCEPT OF DEAF PRIDE (DEAF PRESIDENT NOW)  Comfort levels are different based on your cultural values (within your family, community, country, etc.). Deaf culture strongly values constant eye contact! -- eye contact Eye = respect contact:  (Note that in some cultures: respect is to avoid eye contact)

 When you watch signing, do you look at the hands or the eyes?

 The eyes! Use your peripheral vision  Deaf culture

 Attention-getting behaviors: waving a hand, creating vibrations, pointing, gentle tap--- these are not rude in Deaf culture

 Deaf culture norms for introductions and leave- taking (leaving a room, party, etc.)– Wilcox book

Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts)

 High rate of genetic deafness (1 of every 155 persons; towns – 1 of every 25; neighborhoods – 1 of every 4); nineteenth century America (1 of every 5,700 people) Other causes of deafness in Early America?

 High fever  Spotted fever (ticks)  Scarlet fever  Scarlet fever (bacterial  Unknown… infection)  Typhus fever (fleas)  Lung fever (pneumonia)  Accidents  Whooping cough (respiratory infection)  Smallpox Cameron, 2005; http://www.lifeprint.co mcc

Early in the 17th century, members of the deaf community in County Kent Weald, England moved to Martha’s Vineyard.

 The language they brought with them has been referred to as Kent Sign Language.

 Kent Sign Language continued to develop, and in time came to be known as Chilmark Sign Language in the 17th - 18th century.

 This eventually became known as Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language.

 In 1817, the school now known as the American School for the Deaf opened in Hartford, Connecticut. (Gallaudet; Clerc) What is the historical  The students from Martha’s Vineyard were sent to Hartford as a group. significance of Martha’s  As a group, they apparently continued to use their native sign language. Vineyard  In time, Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language and Sign other “home signs” became absorbed within Language? the French-based sign language being taught at the school. Cameron, 2005; http://www.lifeprint.comcc

Summary:

 First school in Hartford Conn. (American Asylum): Students used Old Signed English in the classroom and indigenous signs outside the classroom  Gallaudet did not recognize the out-of-class signs as an independent, grammatical language  “Natural signing” is Old  ASL is a mixture: early methodical signs, OFSL, indigenous languages  Old signs OFSL  (home signs, in the USA  MVSL)    Old ASL

 ASL (modern) in the USA---

 Gallaudet (with Clerc’s help) found the first school for the Deaf in the USA, 1817  In the USA, most of the students were taught by Deaf instructors, or those who supported natural signing  1880 Congress of Milan, Italy banned the use of signs- hearing men excluded the Deaf teachers, and returned to change Deaf education in the USA (“Dark Ages” of Deaf Ed.) Dark Ages of Deaf Education--

 Oralism fueled by ignorance  (thought there was a “contagious” factor, as did many who did not understand)  After years of struggles in education, Total Communication was allowed in the 1970’s  Signed English was invented by a group of hearing men to “allow” signs but not a separate language- it was to allow only “visual” English on the hands  Signed English systems are not true languages--- how can you recognize the difference?

Manually Coded English

 Various types (Signed English, /SEE, etc.) example: SEE 1972

 Invented by hearing, adding English initials to many ASL signs, and adding “markers” such as prepositions, conjunctions, etc.  Goal is to use some hand signals while speaking English. Lip movements (and often voice) are important.  Sound-based- it does not “make sense” visually  It was made for hearing people to teach “spoken” and written English in schools! From ASL to SEE

 You will see people signing all  Varieties from strict ASL to  exact Signed English.

 Schools vary greatly in their approaches:  some use strict Oralism, some  Total Communication,  some use ASL (bilingual method) K

 There are many cultural and other factors that decide what a person will sign.

 You will naturally find it easier to use Signed English, as it was made to be easier for hearing people.

 The real language itself- ASL, is more challenging, becau s e it is in fact a different language.  Be proud you are learning ASL! 