Respect Des Langues Deux

This is the second part to the "Respecting Languages". I must apologize for the tone in the "Language" post. It was difficult to be able to explain it in a rational avenue.

I did explain about my experience regarding speaking and signing; apparently, the message got lost somewhere, own fault. Let me explain more....

I became deaf after contracting rubella at 11 months. I was post-lingual and even after losing my hearing, I was able to talk to a limit. After finding out that I am deaf, my parents went for sign language to add to speaking English. As I grew up, I spoke while around my family but signed with my friends. I was already a native ASL user, although Signed Exact English was used in the classroom. Even when I moved to Indiana Deaf School, I still wanted to speak so when I went home, I spoke. I was even upset if my hearing aid is not working. Still my parents supported me using sign language. We still argue about it to this day, my parents should have made it mandatory that I signed at home.

My siblings are familiar with sign language and can identify signs through body language, expressions (called non-manual markers) and other aspects of what ASL is. Only six years ago, they took the opportunity to learn sign language, my sister hasn't but wants to and she learns whenever she can.

The point to the above paragraphs is that I tried my best to respect languages in a different way, speaking at home and signing at school, when they could be incorporated, especially at home. Yeah, I did speak at school but it was signing 98 percent of the time. I would have been less frustrated at family events if my family (other than my mother) signed. There are always lessons in life.

I also want to mention that my grandmother still remembered a few signs when I went down to visit her, I was surprised. The last time I saw her was I think 2002 at my cousin's wedding and she's only 92. Wow!

I also wanted to share an experience that I have regarding languages. I took French at the first university I attended to. The experience I have is somewhat satisfactory, few weakness is some of the students did not have a good grasp of English, specifically grammar, to be able to write into sentences and that would hurt the learning and processing of language. Deaf people have English as their second language and often will parallel English with ASL/other forms of manual communication methods.

I will admit that I failed the 102 class, I believe, I forgot the reason why....probably has to do with homework. I did retake the class and did well; however, I did not build enough respect or ability to use the language I've learned and be able to communicate it effectively. I left the university before I took the 202 level of French and attempted to take it at Purdue U. Calumet.

Now that is a problem. How can interpreters be able to translate three languages, when they know two and absolutely at a loss for the third. If anyone has an experience with that, please let me know. I know the difference is that I took the first three (ok, four) classes at the other university and now taking the final class at PUC. The teacher and I came to an arrangement of online correspondence. I dropped the class after four weeks (I stick with classes no matter what) on basis of my grammar which sucks.

Why is sharing my experience relevant, you may think. It shows me that in order to become proficient in a language, one must use it out there....out in the community where people use it every day. If I became friends with someone who uses French on a daily basis, I believe I would be able to benefit more because of the daily interaction rather than in a lecture/classroom.

Suppose both universities offered events in French, I'd jump at the chance to use the language, more likely write/read rather than sign it. Speak French? Few words here and there, gotta be tough. At the first university, people would more than likely be able to attempt signing the language (and French Sign Language is not taught at this university, only written/read). At PUC, the interpreter would be totally lost. Again if anyone has experience at the college/university level, let me know!

Language is important to every single one of us, whether we can hear or not. It connects us all to a part of a global community. I am not for a world full of English speaking people. I am for a world that is diverse as it is now and since in the past. This world has a lot to teach us, for us to learn and allows us to see reality in a different light. We begin to understand how different we are as well as how similar and begin to accept who we are. I am for speaking/signing multiple languages and learning about subcultures. I am bi-lingual and bi-cultural. I speak and sign and I live in both subcultures.

When I was young, I couldn't accept the fact that I had some hearing loss nor could I accept the fact that I spoke well enough to pass for a hearing person. I also can pass for having a deaf family (when I have a hearing one) because of my fluent ASL. It was more of a curse than a gift; however, as time goes on by, it is a gift. These gifts are a part of who I am, I cannot take that for granted.

If I lost you, please post a comment. Smiles!

A Diversified Community

Northwest Indiana, historically, has always stood out from the rest of the state. Most presume that it is we are in the proximity of Chicago, only 35 minutes away. The region was the personification of the American Dream, perhaps 50 years ago. Now it is not true. We are fraught with corruption, self-glorification, and disregard for others within our own communities. Historically Democratic, holds the state's top minority populations - Hispanic/Latino and African American/Black, and the state's entertainment center.

What's relevant about this? We break down this region's communities and we see complete diversity within this region. This region also holds the second largest deaf/hard of hearing population of all ages, mostly in Lake County. Yet, we segregate ourselves from each other, rather than taking the opportunity to grab the bulls by its horns and become the utopia each of us dream within our dreams.

Relevant issues: Education, Interpreter quality (Education/Community), Languages, Hearing technology available, Parental/Academic involvement and Community involvement, Racial segregation, and Employment, to name a few.

Gallaudet U. just announced Robert Davila, a tri-lingual speaker, deaf since 8 years old, former teacher at Gallaudet U. and administrator at National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID) and Department of Education to head up as the interim President after I. King Jordan steps down December 31, 2006. Anything wrong with this picture? No - Dr. Davila personifies the diverse person and values education at its highest and he's deaf. Any challenges?

As growing up here in Northwest Indiana for 25 years and counting, I do not think I really ever experinced conflicts between communities until I came back from Gallaudet U. in 1997. However, society back in the 1970's and 1980's are different from today's society. One thing is consistent - lack of communication network access. Hearing parents are separated from Deaf parents, deaf children are separated from deaf and hearing children and on. If there was a critical issue regarding interpreters or education, almost nothing is done. If something was done, there was usually a lone person standing in the doorway, making those changes; however, those changes usually impact only 1 or 2 people rather than the entire community.

I recently commented to friends of mine, who are deaf and now have deaf grandchildren - they have an opportunity to take the chance to change things for the better, do it now rather than later and don't wait. The point is, this is OUR community and it is diverse (multi-lingual/multi-cultural). Self-segregation, "someone else will do it", "we have a leader", negative attitudes about one's abilities and limitations imposed by others (even within our own subcultures) prevent us from being able to make changes and become cohesive.

Some of us who are pro-active towards education equality for all children, will tell you the frustration of education for deaf children, is more than the education for them; but the entire school systems. If you can look at one specific group, in this case, deaf children, see how they get their education, you will have the bigger picture of how the school system educates all of the children enrolled for academic advancement and pursuit.

What types of relevant issues that shows us how we do things in this part of the state, we stagnate, refuse to do anything, or leave it to others to do the work. If anyone truly cares, we could do more for the communities we live in, renew and create new bonds, remember the past (don't dwell), live the present and look to the future with open eyes, hearts, and minds. We would do more than just stand alone - create links, links of communities, teaching each other and allowing more than technology advances...true human touch reach out and being strong.

"It takes a village to raise a child." ~African Proverb. That is reality. It also takes a village to raise a village - the people within them. Being afraid of something that (which, who, how, why) is different, which in itself is normal, limits anyone more than others. Look at your neighbors, schoolmates, family members, and whomever, ask yourself, "am I afraid?"