Offended by ASL students?

I found out that one of my online friends from an art forum has a deaf sister and a deaf brother-in-law. She know some ASL and will help me learn some on Skype. Her sister is also willing to help me as well.
 
HelloNurse said:
I went to a Deaf happy hour in my area to get some "Deaf community hours" in for a paper I had to do for my ASL class. I had so much fun and made a bunch of Deaf friends that I just kept going! Even though my signing isn't very good yet, I still get along with everyone and am able to have a good time. I dont think anyone is offended by me because I am hearing and still learning ASL. They actually help me out a lot. I learn so many new words every time I go! It also helps me get used to the grammar and syntax. I don't think its possible to become fluent in sign language without spending a lot of time with some actual Deafies. I asked my teacher if it was ok that I keep going to them over winter break even though the semester is ending (they are once a month), and she was like "Of course! They would be sad if you didnt come back next month!"
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What I am wondering if you are signing but use the speech like talking out loud whether there are deaf or hearing people? It might be okay for them but it is really offensive if you are only interest in ASL while talking out loud. In the Deaf event, it is mostly voice off. Some Deaf person would grunt or speak a word loudly (maybe a short sentence and then stop talking). Mostly we just sign with no voice at all. As long as you can sign ASL whether you are good or poor at it, but still can sign without using the voice at all. Understand what I am getting at? :hmm:
 
Bebonang said:
What I am wondering if you are signing but use the speech like talking out loud whether there are deaf or hearing people? It might be okay for them but it is really offensive if you are only interest in ASL while talking out loud. In the Deaf event, it is mostly voice off. Some Deaf person would grunt or speak a word loudly (maybe a short sentence and then stop talking). Mostly we just sign with no voice at all. As long as you can sign ASL whether you are good or poor at it, but still can sign without using the voice at all. Understand what I am getting at? :hmm:
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i totally understand. i definately try to sign as much as possible and fingerspell if i dont know something.. my only problem is my HOH friend who never shuts his mouth when hes talking to me. he is a perfectly good signer, but forgets that i can sign or just finds it easier to talk to me instead. i always sign to him to "shut your mouth, and sign please!" haha.

but my ASL teacher gave me a pair of earplugs that i usually put in when i go to deaf events to kind of help remind me to not use my voice. it actually works! :lol:
 
HelloNurse said:
i totally understand. i definately try to sign as much as possible and fingerspell if i dont know something.. my only problem is my HOH friend who never shuts his mouth when hes talking to me. he is a perfectly good signer, but forgets that i can sign or just finds it easier to talk to me instead. i always sign to him to "shut your mouth, and sign please!" haha.

but my ASL teacher gave me a pair of earplugs that i usually put in when i go to deaf events to kind of help remind me to not use my voice. it actually works! :lol:
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Maybe your HOH friend likes talking more. Or feels you are just using him for sign practice instead of friendship.l
 
HelloNurse said:
i totally understand. i definately try to sign as much as possible and fingerspell if i dont know something.. my only problem is my HOH friend who never shuts his mouth when hes talking to me. he is a perfectly good signer, but forgets that i can sign or just finds it easier to talk to me instead. i always sign to him to "shut your mouth, and sign please!" haha.
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Are you sure that your friend is comfortable with your "shut your mouth, and sign please" commands?
 
Reba said:
Are you sure that your friend is comfortable with your "shut your mouth, and sign please" commands?
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Personally, I find it irritating when D/HoH people automatically use their voice with hearing people. How can we expect their receptive skills to improve if we don't sign normally with them? I know many hearing people feel the same way.

And on top of that, (I don't know about the HoH person you're refering to, but...) many D/HoH people don't speak well. They think they do, bless their hearts, but don't! Nobody wins. The D/HoH person is just embarrassing themselves and the hearing person has to work extra hard to understand them.
 
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Just say "what" all the time when they are using their voice. It seem to work with my hubby and son. I don't mean to but it seem they automatically shift to writing or signing.
 
warpedpink said:
Personally, I find it irritating when D/HoH people automatically use their voice with hearing people. How can we expect their receptive skills to improve if we don't sign normally with them? I know many hearing people feel the same way.

And on top of that, (I don't know about the HoH person you're refering to, but...) many D/HoH people don't speak well. They think they do, bless their hearts, but don't! Nobody wins. The D/HoH person is just embarrassing themselves and the hearing person has to work extra hard to understand them.
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It is called code switching. Most deaf are very adept at it. They had to learn the skill from childhood on.
 
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jillio said:
deafgal001 said:
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No... you have been acting strange before that. Sometimes it trigger the attack.
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There you go. Confusing the cart and the horse.
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It's kinda like bringing work home. And anything that irritates him at home, he made it alot worst turning it into a full blown argument. Totally unnecessary as he could simply say his piece and move on.
 
deafgal001 said:
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It's kinda like bringing work home. And anything that irritates him at home, he made it alot worst turning it into a full blown argument. Totally unnecessary as he could simply say his piece and move on.
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Gotta admit.....I have done that, too. Especially when I have seen a kid who is having a really tough time, and then I read posts saying that certain things aren't necessary for deaf kids. I see the heartbreak everyday when certain environments are par for the course. But, I do have a couple of friends here that will usually PM me and put it on the line. I love those people. They care enough to shoot straight with me. And they understand that I shoot straight because I care.
 
Bottesini said:
Maybe your HOH friend likes talking more. Or feels you are just using him for sign practice instead of friendship.l
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no no not at all.. when we hang out alone or with a bunch of hearing people we usually talk, but when i go to a deaf event with him, i like to try to sign as much as possible.

and hes not offended by my telling him to shut up. we are very rude to each other in public. haha. its a strange bond we have... he has proudly taught me all the insults in ASL that i will ever need to know. :cool2:
 
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