Posting #5: Chapters 19-21

Ch.19:

This chapter was a little difficult for me to understand. I had never heard of Total Communication (TC) before. The definition that The Conference of Educational Administrators Servicing the Deaf (CEASD) came up with helped me develop a better understanding of it. The CEASD defined Total Communication as “a philosophy incorporating the appropriate aural, manual, and oral modes of communication in order to ensure effective communication with and among hearing-impaired persons” (pg.127). It was also said to be the “right of the deaf individual to have easy access to a wide spectrum of useful forms of communication” (pg.127).

I thought that the approach Edward Miner Gallaudet took with using the Combined Approach, using ASL in the classrooms with optional oral classes, was a great approach because they were given a choice.  I liked the fact that deaf students were given the opportunity to attend speech classes but it was not mandatory since not everyone found it beneficial.

I also had never heard of “Simultaneous Communication” (Sim-Com). I learned that it was “a method of signing while talking” (pg.128). Sim-Com, which is combining speech while talking, can be incorrect at times because it can cause people to leave out or forget signs. In TC “the emphasis is undoubtly on speech” (pg.128). Both Sim-Com and TC use speech but the difference is that Sim-Com allows the use of sign language while speaking.

The “Bilingual-Bicultural Approach” (Bi-Bi) is when there is “ASL in the classroom to teach English” (pg.129). This again focuses on speech and English with the help of using a few signs from ASL which is very similar to Sim-Com because of the use of the signs. It differs from TC because it is not just speech.

I find it understandable that people often confuse the three since they all have similarities in the fact they all allow speaking, just Sim-Com and Bi-Bi allow the use of ASL signs as well.

Ch.20:

I think that all universities should offer and accept ASL as a foreign language requirement.  Dr.Sherman Wilcox comments and says that some people do not consider ASL as a foreign language because “they had faulty preconceptions” (pg. 131). He says that, “there is no written literature in ASL, but there could be. ASL can be written. Writing systems have been designed for ASL but the community of ASL users hasn’t accepted them yet, and maybe never will” (pg.132).

 I think in a way we do have written ASL, I consider that to be glossing. ASL should be a physical language accompanied by Glossing. I don’t believe that English can be its written form because of the difference in syntax and grammatical markers. Glossing is one effective way to accomplish this in a written form. He compares ASL to Navajo because Navajo did not have a writing system for many years until a man created one, which is what could happen in ASL. I’m so glad that WKU does offer and accept ASL as a foreign language. Dr. Sherman Wilcox brought up a very valid point when he said, “many languages are used only in this country and still are accepted as a foreign language” (pg.131). Just because there is not a formal written form of ASL does not mean that it should not be considered a foreign language.

Ch.21:

The only interaction I have had with a deaf person in a public place was during my Deaf Culture Events and when trying to talk with one of my deaf acquaintances. This chapter discusses how sometimes when you try to help or interpret their conversations they “are going to resent it, and may react with embarrassment and annoyance (pg.135). How sometimes these acts can be “seen as patronizing, perpetuating an offensive stereotype of Deaf people as helpless and vulnerable” (pg. 135). During my interactions I never was trying to help interpret, instead they were teaching me so they were not annoyed instead they were excited to teach me.

I can see why a deaf-person might find someone offering to interpret or help them offensive in a public place. They are just deaf; they are just as intelligent if not more because they have had to learn to make up for one of their senses. A hearing person may think they are doing the right thing when really a deaf person is capable of communicating. “They can manage quite nicely by using simple signs that hearing people can understand, or writing notes” (pg. 137). In class we discussed how some deaf people keep a little notebook and a pen on them for such circumstances. Justin, whose parents are deaf, also shared that his dad does this. Compared to just small everyday things, I think that in case of an emergency it would be different if you tried to help. I think in that case it would be appreciated instead of looked at as embarrassing or patronizing.