kla1991:

dailycupofcreativitea:

So my coworker (lab mate?) is partially deaf and was given a sign language interpreter by the university (so he doesn’t pay for anything) and also got one at his new job, which is really cool.

I didn’t realize just how hard sign language interpreters work until I started interacting with his interpreter.

Any time I need a Zoom call from my coworker to get him to explain some machine learning stuff to me, his interpreter joins the Zoom call.

During 2 hour lab meetings, he has 2 interpreters that constantly switch so they don’t get tired, and when there’s only one, we have to take a break in the middle so she can rest.

Both his interpreters spent a lot of time reading complex scientific journal articles in machine learning in order to agree on what language to use during the lab meetings.

We went out for a lab lunch and everyone ordered all this delicious food…and the interpreter couldn’t eat anything, because she had to work (my coworker said it’s part of their job but still!).

She would constantly ask me what the group on the other side of the table was talking about so she could keep my coworker “in the loop” of the “office chatter” instead of only interpreting when someone spoke directly to him.

Having to struggle with words from other languages (I’m bilingual and when I mixed in some Urdu words, the interpreter asked me to translate so she could sign them). Also having to interpret conversations where everyone is interrupting each other.

Just…it’s such an important job and I didn’t realize how much work goes into it. Sign language interpreters are amazing and really do their part to not only “translate” for deaf people, but to make them feel included in all of the conversation.

If you’re interacting with someone and their interpreter, there are things you can do to make that communication easier!

1) If either of the people don’t know you well, or if it’s a busy video or phone call, say your name before you speak! This makes it easier to track who’s saying what and helps the deaf person and the interpreter get to know you better.

2) Try your best to not speak over/interrupt others or make side comments while someone else is speaking. It’s really hard! If you manage to do it, though, everyone will follow the conversation better, not just the deaf person and their interpreter.

3) If you’re using an acronym, a non-English word, a slang term, or a technical term that the interpreter might not know, define and/or spell it politely and as briefly as possible. Use the full term, then say the acronym. Take a second to clarify words that might sound a lot like other words. If you can fingerspell, that can be helpful, too! You, the deaf person, and the interpreter will eventually build a rhythm that makes this easier to do and get a sense of what does or doesn’t need to be defined

4) Don’t engage the interpreter in conversation. It can feel weird, but the interpreter is working and needs to pay attention to things that are not you. If they’re on a break and want to chat, they’ll approach you.

5) Most importantly, remember to look at the deaf person, NOT the interpreter, while speaking with the deaf person! Unless you’re making one of those brief explanations to help the interpreter out, you should look at the person you’re speaking to. You should also look at the deaf person while the interpreter speaks, because the deaf person is who you’re actually listening to. It can feel really weird to basically ignore a person, especially someone whose hands are moving and catching your attention, but that’s what’s polite.

5.1) If you, like me, need to be looking at a person to understand what they’re saying, tell the deaf person that so they know you’re doing what you need to to communicate with them, not ignoring them in favor of the interpreter, which is rude. This is also helpful information for the interpreter, who will then know to keep eye contact with you while interpreting whenever possible. Make sure to give this info to the deaf person first and foremost, though.

(These tips can also be helpful for talking with folks who are hard of hearing but not using an interpreter, especially on video or phone calls. Don’t interrupt, don’t start side conversations, and turn your face toward the hard of hearing person while speaking as much as possible!)

angryje:

accessibleaesthetics:

Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of free resources for different sign languages:

• American Sign Language (ASL)
• Australian Sign Language (Auslan)
• Black American Sign Language (BASL)
• British Sign Language (BSL)
• Chinese Sign Language (CSL)
• Emirati Sign Language (ESL)
• French Sign Language (LSF)
• Indian Sign Language (ISL)
• International Sign Language (IS)
• Irish Sign Language (ISL)
• Japanese Sign Language (JSL)
• Mexican Sign Language (LSM)
• Plains Indian Sign Language (PISL)
• Ukrainian Sign Language (USL)

Please feel free to add on if you know of others, be it more resource for one of the sign languages above, or resources for learning any of the other 300 plus sign languages.

Egyptian Sign Language YouTube course

Egyptian Sign Language, course 2

Two ESL (Egypt) Dictionaries’ links at the end of this article ; one for children, the other is for adults and teenagers.

(They’re in arabic but covers all of the basics)

naurielrochnur:

emorawrites:

tell-the-stars-hello:

manyblinkinglights:

raginrayguns:

cptsdcarlosdevil:

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but it is absolutely an example of civilizational inadequacy that only deaf people know ASL

“oh we shouldn’t teach children this language, it will only come in handy if they [checks notes] ever have to talk in a situation where it’s noisy or they need to be quiet”

My mom learned it because she figured she’ll go deaf when she gets old

My family went holiday SCUBA diving once, and a couple of Deaf guys were in the group. I was really little and I spent most of the briefing overcome with the realization that while the rest of us were going to have regulators in our mouths and be underwater fairly soon, they were going to be able to do all the same stuff and keep talking.

The only reason some form of sign language is not a standard skill is ableism, as far as I can tell.

For anyone interested in learning, Bill Vicars has full lessons of ASL on youtube that were used in my college level classes. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/billvicars

and here’s the link to the website he puts in his videos:

https://www.lifeprint.com/

Update: you guys this is an amazing resource for learning asl. Bill Vicars is an incredible teacher. His videos are of him teaching a student in a classroom, using the learned vocabulary to have conversations.

Not only is the conversation format immersive and helpful for learning the grammar, but the students make common mistakes which he corrects, mistakes I wouldn’t have otherwise know I was making.

He also emphasizes learning ASL in the way it’s actually used by the Deaf community and not the rigid structure that some ASL teachers impose in their classrooms

His lesson plans include learning about the Deaf community, which is an important aspect of learning ASL. Knowing how to communicate in ASL without the knowledge of the culture behind it leaves out a lot of nuances and explanations for the way ASL is.

Lastly, his lessons are just a lot of fun to watch. He is patient, entertaining, and funny. This good natured enthusiasm is contagious and learning feels like a privilege and not a chore

And it’s all FREE. Seriously. If you’ve ever wanted to learn ASL

emorawrites:

tell-the-stars-hello:

manyblinkinglights:

raginrayguns:

cptsdcarlosdevil:

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but it is absolutely an example of civilizational inadequacy that only deaf people know ASL

“oh we shouldn’t teach children this language, it will only come in handy if they [checks notes] ever have to talk in a situation where it’s noisy or they need to be quiet”

My mom learned it because she figured she’ll go deaf when she gets old

My family went holiday SCUBA diving once, and a couple of Deaf guys were in the group. I was really little and I spent most of the briefing overcome with the realization that while the rest of us were going to have regulators in our mouths and be underwater fairly soon, they were going to be able to do all the same stuff and keep talking.

The only reason some form of sign language is not a standard skill is ableism, as far as I can tell.

For anyone interested in learning, Bill Vicars has full lessons of ASL on youtube that were used in my college level classes. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/billvicars

and here’s the link to the website he puts in his videos:

https://www.lifeprint.com/

linguisticparadox:

cuddlyspider:

deadmomjokes:

thecaffeinatedautistic:

wingedcatgirl:

beecups:

Why isn’t using sign language more common in society? like??? Not even just communicating within deaf communities but for everybody to use with anybody?

I feel like this should be standard learning material for those working in loud workplaces or with machinery, or maybe idk for talking underwater or when someone else can’t hear you at a concert. Or what about when somebody is having a panic attack and can’t talk, or just isn’t all that comfortable with voicing their feelings?

Why isn’t nonverbal communication more integrated into our society? Cause it should be.

#I mean the answer is ‘because Alexander Graham Bell’

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graham_Bell#Work_with_the_deaf

Several influential people of the time, including Bell, viewed deafness as something that should be eradicated, and also believed that with resources and effort they could teach the deaf to speak and avoid the use of sign language, thus enabling their integration within the wider society from which many were often being excluded.^[64]

y i k e s

I’m actually really glad someone read my quick tags on that post. Because lots of people don’t have a clue about this stuff.

In fact, before Bell, there were a few towns that used mostly sign (Martha’s Vineyard, most notably) to communicate, regardless of hearing ability. The U.S. used to be a lot more sign friendly before the rise in the eugenics movement.

I wish we could be like “well the fucko is dead now so lets stomp all over his name and use sign language more

I think I said this on this post before, but if I ever have time in the future I wanna learn sign language. Partly as a fuck you to ableists, partly for my own edification, but mostly because I’ve had multiple deaf/hoh customers at work and pointing and writing things out is awkward as hell.

lillyrosaura:

There’s a website where you can learn ASL on your own and it is free and the woman on there, her name is Rochelle Barlow, she runs the site and she actually is a homeschool teacher and teaches ASL. I am passing this on to you guys cause most people on here is open-minded. Well, whoever of y’all reads this will possibly ignore this but if you are a curious george like me and wants to learn ASL she’s your gal. 

Rochelle has a free program called Learn ASL in 31 days, currently I am on day 10ish or 12, (idk I’m on learning my numbers currently) but I believe this site will help people that are either curious about ASL and just wants to learn, or actually is Deaf but can’t afford to going to actual class or something, or just hard of hearing. 

I am truly in love with learning with Rochelle, she isn’t those interpreters that will talk while she signs, (and I’ve searched through Youtube how to sign but the person talking will distract me and I would get confused) and it is all in video which is a good thing. I found her through Youtube, that’s where she has all her videos. Just check out her site. You’ll like it. 

beecups:

Why isn’t using sign language more common in society? like??? Not even just communicating within deaf communities but for everybody to use with anybody?

I feel like this should be standard learning material for those working in loud workplaces or with machinery, or maybe idk for talking underwater or when someone else can’t hear you at a concert. Or what about when somebody is having a panic attack and can’t talk, or just isn’t all that comfortable with voicing their feelings?

Why isn’t nonverbal communication more integrated into our society? Cause it should be.