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!