Watch this clip on Joey's ASL vlog and comment on his question.
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- Monica
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Whew! Watch, rewatch... So far I understand that the discussion is about 'which is worse' - Deaf people signing to each other, commenting on or filling their neighbor in on something they missed during a presentation. Or is it worse when hearing people are reading a book, writing, etc. while listening to the lecturer?
ReplyDeleteWhich shows more or less respect? Well, I think both cultures should show respect by paying attention the lecture/interpreter - hearing people, even though we say we can listen and do other things at the same time - we know that it is important to show respect to a teacher/lecturer by looking at them while they are speaking.
Obviously for the Deaf members of the audience, if they aren't watching, then they aren't paying attention to what is being said either.
So for sure I think the hearing people should have been watching the lecture, not just 'listening' to it and doing other things with their hands and eyes.
As for the Deaf members of the audience, I can understand the 'side talk' if it relates to the lecture... for example catching their neighbor up on something they missed. Why is that okay? Because as we are all learning, if you miss the topic or the 'setup' of people/locations in ASL, you miss out on the whole lecture. So if you misunderstand something from the interpreter, then it is 'neighborly' for someone to catch you up (quietly, in ASL).
However, if the Deaf members are simply 'chatting' or commenting to each other on the lecture while the person is still presenting, then I think that is rude too. The time for discussion is after the person has finished their presententation, not during (showing respect) -- this goes for Deaf and hearing alike.
:)
I agree with Julie. A side conversation which is related to the lecture is completely appropriate, the same as having a classmate ask you for clarification while a professor is talking. I've been yelled at for those side conversations, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there was a reprimand in this instance.
ReplyDeleteThe question as to who was being more disrespectful, the people with books taking notes or the Deaf individuals who were having the side conversation, again I have to say it depends. If the hearing people are making notes on the lecture, that is acceptable, if they are doing a crossword puzzle, that is a different story.
Another aspect of the problem to consider is the cultural aspect. I was reading the comments on Joey's site about it and one person made the comment that if the lecturer was Deaf it would be different, because they "know how we are." And I think that is completely true. This was just an example of a cultural difference.
I think Julie and Melissa mentioned some very good points. A lot depends on the situation, but like Monica has explained to us many times English does not always translate into ASL easily, so if asking questions is what the student needs to do for clarification then I dont think that could be the same as a hearing student working on other homework or doing a crossword puzzle. But I agree iwth Melissa that a lot does depend on the situation.
ReplyDeleteWas he commenting that the hearing people were taking notes? Or reading? Or what? I can't really understand that part ... If they were taking notes, then I would have to accept the behavior - otherwise, not.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comment Melissa - that it would be 'different' if the lecturer were Deaf... Hmmm, I guess I need to go read the comment -
This may put me out of line, but this is the proper place for discussion, right? Comments like "it would be different if he was Deaf" sometimes make me curious about 'reverse prejudice' type things - I mean like not giving the lecturer undivided attention because he is not Deaf? Is that at play here (with the comment on his site only?)