Ch 36

     This chapter talks and discusses the question, "What do you call a deaf person who doesn't speak?" In the old days people would say that, "Those who didn't speak were branded as 'deaf-mutes' or deaf-and-dumb'" (209). The author says that today we simply just call them, deaf, that's it. The previous chapters before has emphasized that most deaf children have speech training. All deaf people have the capability to speak, whether they do or not is their choice. Most deaf people decide not to use their voice because they have a hard time controlling it, because they can not hear their own voice.
     "Speech is a survival skill-useful in some situations, but optional. Many Deaf people lead full, productive, happy lives without it- and they deal with the Hearing world everyday" (2011). I am very glad I have started reading this book. It has opened my eyes to a lot of things and I have learned so much. I have gained so much respect for the Deaf community. I can't wait to continue the book in ASL II! 


Works Cited

Morre, S. Matthew, and Linda Levitan. For Hearing People Only. 3rd Ed. Rochester, New York: MSM Productions, Ltd.,2003.Print.

Ch 35

     This chapter discusses the question, "If you're deaf how come you can talk?" Just because you can't hear well or are deaf,  does not mean that you can't talk. In today's society everything including people are labeled and stereotyped. Even though we try our best to stay and stray away from these labels, they are still there. Some hearing people have bad speech, mumble, have a strong dialect, and so on. So in my opinion I don't think it's okay to throw all deaf people into one category. This quote explained it all to me. "You'd never know she was deaf, to hear her talk. He has good speech for a deaf person. She talks like a foreigner. He talks badly. You sound like an animal" (205). Deaf people have a wide and varies types of speech, just as hearing people do. How I can of related it was, not all hearing people who sign, sign the same exact way. Some peoples signing is slow, fast, sloppy, precise, and etc. Stereotyping really should not be.
    I did learn the different and unique types of category signs made on the cheek and throat. These categories consisted of; deaf, deaf-speech, hard of hearing, ex hearing, oral, HH-voice, and hearing in the head.  I had no idea there were so many categories. "People are not labels. We are more important than categories. Our prime concern is that there be communication" (207).


Works Cited

Morre, S. Matthew, and Linda Levitan. For Hearing People Only. 3rd Ed. Rochester, New York: MSM Productions, Ltd.,2003.Print.

Ch 34

      This chapter talks about deaf people and them choosing to use their voice. Most deaf people who do use their voice are very soft. They have never heard their own voice, so I can see where it would be difficult to talk to people. Deaf people are aware that most people can't understand them. They are also aware that their voices may sound unpleasant to the ears or harsh. "they're re embarrassed when they have to use them" (202).
     "Speech should never be forced on, or demanded of, deaf people. (Neither should signing be forced on hearing people!) It should be voluntary" (203). Forcing a deaf person to talk can make them feel very uncomfortable. I have almost completed ASL 1, and even though I know some ASL if I was forced to sign at my job it would feel uncomfortable, even though I have had a little training. Most Deaf  people have had little speech training (good and bad), but that does not mean they know a lot about talking or speech. After all, we are talking about foreign languages here.

This Works Cited

Morre, S. Matthew, and Linda Levitan. For Hearing People Only. 3rd Ed. Rochester, New York: MSM Productions, Ltd.,2003.Print.

Ch 33

      This is by far my favorite chapter in the book. I am wanting to pursue a career in speech-language pathology. This chapter opened my eyes a little more to the deaf community. Doctors who tell the parent that their child is deaf, audiologist who tell the parents what they need to do but have no sympathy, and speech pathologist who believe the deaf are just defective, all of these things I can see why the Deaf community would have a negative attitude toward these professions.
     Speech pathologist back in the day did use physical punishment to teach deaf children how to speak or pronounce words and sounds. That theory of teaching is awful, cruel, and I am happy that they passed a law against it. I will admit that one reason why I took AS; was because of the profession I am going into.  honestly had good intentions and I wanted to be able to communicate with my clients, but I think I had the wrong mindset about it all along until now. I did want to learn ASL, so that I could help communicate and correct deaf children and their speech. I wanted to help them learn English. I have a totally new mindset. Yes, I still want to help them pronounce sounds and give them a shot at learning speech, but that is no longer my primary goal. Deaf children are not defective, or broken, they are who they are and that is that. My vision impairment is uncorrectable. The way I see it forcing a deaf person to learn speech is like forcing me to read something out of my vision zone. It is ridiculous. Instead or trying to force or "correct" somebody, I would rather teach them how to compensate or deal with it so they can benefit. I like the quote below and I want to help fulfill it. "We're all for a better relationship between speech pathologist and their deaf clients. We would like the therapist/client relationship to be one of mutual respect and honesty. Not one of antagonism or deception" (199). 

Works Cited

Morre, S. Matthew, and Linda Levitan. For Hearing People Only. 3rd Ed. Rochester, New York: MSM Productions, Ltd.,2003.Print.

Ch 32

     This chapter talks about lip reading and speechreading. I was not aware that the two were different. Speechreading involves a person reading not only the lips, but the eyes, facial expressions, physical expressions, and etc. A common error made is that most people have it in their heads that deaf people should be able to read lips. "Only some 30% of all spoken sounds are visible on the lips. Many sounds, like "b", "p", and "m" are virtually impossible to distinguish by watching the mouth" (191). When I read that part of the book I automatically made the sounds with my mouth. I can see how reading lips is a talent, because most words or sounds can look the same. Homonyms are another thing that can make lip reading a task. The book used the example of blue and blew.
     One thing that I found a little disturbing was the fact that if a deaf person says they can't read lips, the hearing person walks away or shrugs. I find that to be highly disrespectful. That would be like a deaf person writing to a hearing person asking if they can sign. If the person answers no, that doesn't  allow the deaf person to just act angry and walk away. Establishing a common ground regardless of the situation is not  only  necessary, but good manners.

Works Cited

Morre, S. Matthew, and Linda Levitan. For Hearing People Only. 3rd Ed. Rochester, New York: MSM Productions, Ltd.,2003.Print.