Comments on: Learning ASL http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/ Michael Chorost, author of <i>Rebuilt</i>, on cochlear implants Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:17:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Karen Putz / DeafMom http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1294 Karen Putz / DeafMom Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:14:41 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1294 Ah, this brought back so many memories! My first ASL class was taught by a native user and I remember trying to figure out that totally new language little by little. There were many frustrations and a lot of determination. You'll be whizzing along in no time! Ah, this brought back so many memories! My first ASL class was taught by a native user and I remember trying to figure out that totally new language little by little. There were many frustrations and a lot of determination. You’ll be whizzing along in no time!

]]> By: Abbie http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1126 Abbie Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:16:52 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1126 I have been fortunate to fall into the good graces of a friend that I mentored through her CI journey. Her husband communicates solely by ASL and is willing to set aside an hour every week to teach me ASL. They hand me papers but most of them they will tell me that it is the "old way." Even the way I do the alphabet, the only signs I was positively sure of is considered the "old way." So what do I do? I learn both ways and it confuses the heck out of me. Apparently, ASL changes too depending on the geographic location. ASL in the north signs differently then the south does. Fingerspelling, I am a certifiable mess with. However, I feel that I am doing pretty good for someone at this stage of the game. I loosened up my fingers by fingerspelling just about everything in sight. I'll be looking forward to see how you are coming along with it. Perhaps you get practice on a video phone too! I just got my very own Ojo :) I have been fortunate to fall into the good graces of a friend that I mentored through her CI journey. Her husband communicates solely by ASL and is willing to set aside an hour every week to teach me ASL. They hand me papers but most of them they will tell me that it is the “old way.” Even the way I do the alphabet, the only signs I was positively sure of is considered the “old way.”

So what do I do? I learn both ways and it confuses the heck out of me. Apparently, ASL changes too depending on the geographic location. ASL in the north signs differently then the south does.

Fingerspelling, I am a certifiable mess with. However, I feel that I am doing pretty good for someone at this stage of the game. I loosened up my fingers by fingerspelling just about everything in sight.

I’ll be looking forward to see how you are coming along with it. Perhaps you get practice on a video phone too! I just got my very own Ojo :)

]]> By: Cathy Davidson http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1123 Cathy Davidson Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:33:22 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1123 Hi, Mike, Congratulations on the book contract. The new book sounds fantastic. And your course at Gallaudet sounds great. Good luck learning ASL. All the best, Cathy Hi, Mike, Congratulations on the book contract. The new book sounds fantastic. And your course at Gallaudet sounds great. Good luck learning ASL. All the best, Cathy

]]> By: Michael Chorost http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1110 Michael Chorost Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:55:17 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1110 Mimi, I've clarified my blog entry after reading your comments. By "institutions" I was not referring to deaf schools, many of which gave their students a good education and a rich social life. I meant places where deaf people were warehoused for life in the belief that they were cognitively disabled. And by "manual labor" I wasn't referring to the trades, such as printing and factory work; I was referring to unskilled labor. There have been enlightened teachers, and founders of schools, in various ages. There are Abbe de L'Epeé, Abbé Sicard, Laurent Clerc, Anne Sullivan, and of course Thomas Gallaudet himself. But many deaf people with great natural talents never found their way to such schools, and spent their lives in poverty. Responding to anon: I'm well aware that cochlear implants are not a miracle cure. Even with two, I'm still a person with a significant hearing loss. And I agree with you entirely that deaf people should learn ASL -- but I would add that they should learn it simultaneously with spoken English. Many studies have shown that there are significant cognitive benefits to growing up bilingually, and I bet the benefit is even greater when one of the languages is a visual language. But, unfortunately, the numbers seem to suggest that CIs are in fact having a numerical impact on deaf society. In its April 2008 Monthly Indicators Report, Gallaudet noted that its primary recruiting pool -- seniors at deaf high schools -- has declined by 25% in the past ten years. I'm cautious in interpreting such a figure, because the decline could be for many other reasons than CI implantation. But I'm certain that CI usage is responsible for at least some of it. Mimi, I’ve clarified my blog entry after reading your comments. By “institutions” I was not referring to deaf schools, many of which gave their students a good education and a rich social life. I meant places where deaf people were warehoused for life in the belief that they were cognitively disabled. And by “manual labor” I wasn’t referring to the trades, such as printing and factory work; I was referring to unskilled labor.

There have been enlightened teachers, and founders of schools, in various ages. There are Abbe de L’Epeé, Abbé Sicard, Laurent Clerc, Anne Sullivan, and of course Thomas Gallaudet himself. But many deaf people with great natural talents never found their way to such schools, and spent their lives in poverty.

Responding to anon: I’m well aware that cochlear implants are not a miracle cure. Even with two, I’m still a person with a significant hearing loss. And I agree with you entirely that deaf people should learn ASL — but I would add that they should learn it simultaneously with spoken English. Many studies have shown that there are significant cognitive benefits to growing up bilingually, and I bet the benefit is even greater when one of the languages is a visual language.

But, unfortunately, the numbers seem to suggest that CIs are in fact having a numerical impact on deaf society. In its April 2008 Monthly Indicators Report, Gallaudet noted that its primary recruiting pool — seniors at deaf high schools — has declined by 25% in the past ten years. I’m cautious in interpreting such a figure, because the decline could be for many other reasons than CI implantation. But I’m certain that CI usage is responsible for at least some of it.

]]> By: Another Mike http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1108 Another Mike Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:40:39 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1108 Michael, It's interesting that when you became deaf, you had the choice to learn to hear with a Cochlear Implant (which currently doesn't do a very good job of duplicating normal hearing) or learning ASL. And now you're learning ASL anyway - in some ways it's a similar experience. Mike Michael,

It’s interesting that when you became deaf, you had the choice to learn to hear with a Cochlear Implant (which currently doesn’t do a very good job of duplicating normal hearing) or learning ASL. And now you’re learning ASL anyway - in some ways it’s a similar experience.

Mike

]]> By: Vic http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1103 Vic Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:56:26 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1103 Heh, a lot of young deaf people who needed to be educated were sent to Deaf institutions, but that was actually a good thing for most of them. Otherwise, they wouldn't be exposed to ASL, deaf culture, or even education at all. Institutionalised deaf education actually gave deaf children of lower economic class, chances that their hearing peers or siblings might not have had (since deaf education was paid for by the state). Far more deaf children are being mainstreamed with an interpreter, and that entails linguistic starvation, as the interpreter is often their only contact with a signer. Have you read Inside Deaf Culture by Padden & Humphries? It's good. There's no shame in the trades, of course, and back then it was certainly easier for deaf people to excel in that respect. You just mean that in this day and age, deaf people now have more opportunities and more support in the way of pursuing a far more academic career. Heh, a lot of young deaf people who needed to be educated were sent to Deaf institutions, but that was actually a good thing for most of them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be exposed to ASL, deaf culture, or even education at all. Institutionalised deaf education actually gave deaf children of lower economic class, chances that their hearing peers or siblings might not have had (since deaf education was paid for by the state). Far more deaf children are being mainstreamed with an interpreter, and that entails linguistic starvation, as the interpreter is often their only contact with a signer.

Have you read Inside Deaf Culture by Padden & Humphries? It’s good.

There’s no shame in the trades, of course, and back then it was certainly easier for deaf people to excel in that respect. You just mean that in this day and age, deaf people now have more opportunities and more support in the way of pursuing a far more academic career.

]]> By: Jon http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1094 Jon Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:21:01 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1094 Congratulations on your Gallaudet appointment and good luck as you prepare to teach what should be a very interesting class. I'm sure there's going to be some intense discussion as well as new paths for you to explore in your writing. I find what you are doing to be very brave (especially in light of some of the comments you seem to get on the blog). Do keep us posted and let us know if you are available for speaking gigs while out on the East Coast. Congratulations on your Gallaudet appointment and good luck as you prepare to teach what should be a very interesting class. I’m sure there’s going to be some intense discussion as well as new paths for you to explore in your writing.

I find what you are doing to be very brave (especially in light of some of the comments you seem to get on the blog). Do keep us posted and let us know if you are available for speaking gigs while out on the East Coast.

]]> By: anon http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1088 anon Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:28:43 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1088 Michael, You seem to be harboring the illusory idea that cochlear implants are a "miracle cure." They are not. The overwhelming majority of the people who use them will need to use sign language anyway in order to prosper, both cognitively and otherwise. CI's, the way they exist today, are not going to cause Deaf culture's influence to decline. Michael,

You seem to be harboring the illusory idea that cochlear implants are a “miracle cure.” They are not. The overwhelming majority of the people who use them will need to use sign language anyway in order to prosper, both cognitively and otherwise.

CI’s, the way they exist today, are not going to cause Deaf culture’s influence to decline.

]]> By: Laurie in TN http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1087 Laurie in TN Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:50:21 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1087 Mike, You are right when you say ASL evolves. Everything evolves and changes over time. Look at how technology has changed the way we hear! There will always be a need for places like Gallaudet, the Jewish community, and other groups in society. Keep us posted on your ASL homework. Hopefully you will get straight A's from your teacher! Mike,

You are right when you say ASL evolves. Everything evolves and changes over time. Look at how technology has changed the way we hear! There will always be a need for places like Gallaudet, the Jewish community, and other groups in society.

Keep us posted on your ASL homework. Hopefully you will get straight A’s from your teacher!

]]> By: Mimi http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1086 Mimi Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:48:20 +0000 http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/07/25/learning-asl/#comment-1086 Umm... I don't know what you've been reading, but 50 years ago, deaf people weren't living in institutions. LInguistic starvation? Where are you coming up with this? In some ways, they were more employable than they are today because they were taught a trade. And is there something wrong with manual labor? Don't be such a white collar snob. This country was built by people who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Umm… I don’t know what you’ve been reading, but 50 years ago, deaf people weren’t living in institutions. LInguistic starvation? Where are you coming up with this?
In some ways, they were more employable than they are today because they were taught a trade. And is there something wrong with manual labor? Don’t be such a white collar snob. This country was built by people who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

]]>