Blog Post #3 - A Few Minutes in the Life of an ASL Interpreter

 



NOTE - Some of the videos in this series contain offensive language. We do not condone the use of this language in class, and this is an extension of the classroom. We hope you can look past this aspect because these videos are good for discussion.

The following video is made to show difficulties with interpreters in situations through a humorous fashion.  Its purpose is to entertain and inform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yy2r3LS6xw&feature=relmfu

What did you think? While the video is funny, and it's meant to be, the uploader and creator is an ASL Interpreter who bases the videos off of her experiences. She just adds her commentary to the overall concept.

Post your comments below concerning the following questions?

1. Why is an interpreter making these videos? What is her message?
2. What does it say about the divide between hearing and Deaf culture?
3. What other thoughts do you have about this video? 

Blog Post #2 - The Fight for Deaf Rights

 




Like any minority group, a constant struggle for rights and equality is a driving force in the culture and for some groups is the only thing that brings the spotlight into the public eye. Deaf Culture has essentially been through a hidden and tumultuous history - (1.) Were you educated at all about the struggles of the Deaf Community or Deaf Culture at all in school?

Through our history classes, we are told of people who changed the world, through revolution, technology, and other methods. Many of your learned about the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell (hopefully all of you are aware of that name, actually). But, as with other people in history, a sense of "heroification" has been applied to Bell and his life. (2.)What is heroification? Well, we all learned about his invention and his mark on history. But did any of your textbooks contain this information? Click this link and read.

http://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/deaflife/bell_nad.html





3. How does the Deaf community view Alexander Graham Bell?

Throughout this course we will further discuss political issues in the Deaf community and how quiet their outbursts and protests have seemed to the rest of the world. However, there was one moment in time where the world took notice.


Click this link, and read everything you can about the Deaf President Now! movement.


http://www.gallaudet.edu/x42164.xml


I'm gonna take a stab in the dark here and assume none of you had heard the information presented here today - maybe a little at most. (4.) So, what's your take on all of it? Why don't we learn about this stuff in school? Give me some reasons why we should, or if you think there isn't room or it lacks overall importance, voice your opinion.

If you have a point to make (you should), back it up. Provide a link to a fact or an article or something that supports your claims. It's one thing to give an opinion, but it's another thing to back and support it.

ALL OF THE ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ARE  IN BOLD FONT. PLEASE ADDRESS ALL OF THEM IN YOUR RESPONSE - THE SAME RULES WILL APPLY TO ALL BLOG POSTS.  Feel free to talk about more than just the questions posed to you.

POST YOUR INITIAL COMMENT BY MONDAY AT 11:59 PM.

POST YOUR COMMENT ON A CLASSMATE'S POST BY TUESDAY AT 11:59 PM.  

Daily Log Link

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IcrtawrHms8i4vEYNWcUnZNsh9keDT_G3CD28qBeZdo/edit

Visit this link daily to see the updated Daily Log. Please keep up with it and remember it has everything did in class - plus more (tips from myself, Storm, and Monica).

Blog Post #1 - Lip Reading and how we view it

 

Alright ASL sisters and brothers, we are technically 2 weeks into your ASL year. Overwhelmed still? Try and relax. Now it's time for us to discuss a key misconception of Deafness and Deaf Culture.

Watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GaKaGwch0U


Rebecca Black just can't catch a break. As if her original video wasn't bad enough, now we have "Gang Fight" to go along with it. What are your thoughts on this video? The "Bad Lip-Reading" series takes videos and matches the lips to words, regardless of what the person is actually saying. The thing is, in my opinion, most of the words match up really well, even though they are nowhere near the lyrics to the timeless classic known as "Friday".


1. What are your thoughts on this video? 
2. What have you thought about lip-reading in the past?

Read this article.

http://www.hearingaidknow.com/2009/01/18/are-people-comfortable-with-lip-reading/


3. This is an argument for the merits of lip-reading. What are your thoughts on this?


4. So, do you think lipreading is an effective method of communication for Deaf people? Be honest people. There is no right or wrong answer at this point. You have been barely exposed to Deaf Culture and its tumultuous history, so your knowledge is expected to be based on being a hearing person. When I was where you were, I remember how I felt about lip-reading. I certainly feel different now.



5. Do you think it is fair for hearing people to expect Deaf people to be able to read lips in daily life? Understand when watching the video that the words being lip-read match up perfectly to what you see, but is nowhere close to the lyrics of the song.

***IMPORTANT STATISTIC***

"Only 30 percent of all spoken sounds are visible on the lips. (No wonder lip-reading is a challenge!)" http://www.deafunderstanding.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11 

A few rules for this blog - be respectful of everyone. We are all entitled to our own opinions and we all come from different backgrounds. Throughout the course, you will learn a lot about Deafness and Deaf Culture, and a whole lot more. 

ALL OF THE ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ARE  IN BOLD FONT. PLEASE ADDRESS ALL OF THEM IN YOUR RESPONSE - THE SAME RULES WILL APPLY TO ALL BLOG POSTS.  Feel free to talk about more than just the questions posed to you.

POST YOUR INITIAL COMMENT BY WEDNESDAY AT 11:59 PM.

POST YOUR COMMENT ON A CLASSMATE'S POST BY THURSDAY AT 11:59 PM.