Table Bells in ASL Classes?

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder explains how he help his ASL students stop voicing in his classroom.

Your Humble Vlog-Poet

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder creates a poem in ASL.

The Most Famous Deaf Mute: Sophie Fowler Gallaudet

Sophie Fowler Gallaudet was a well respect deaf mute. And I am a deaf mute but I "can" talk. Only people who are accustomed to my voice would understand me clearly. However, when in McDonald's, I could barely make the order of a double cheeseburger that goes without ketchup and tomato. Why is that so?

My lifetime struggle in overcoming my own communication barriers informs me that people working at McDonald's are not accustomed to my monotonous voice. I'm also unable to volume up my voice so someone could hear me. I was trained to be quiet and not to talk too loudly. I'm even unable to intone my words so that it would sound like a question, a statement or even a joke. People at McDonald's are not trained to listen to my voice. Neither do people in the Cheesecake Factory restaurant (my all time favorite). Why not? I'm a deaf mute.

In school many years ago, I sang many songs. Today I can still sing Silent Night, Holy Night. Any honest hearing person will tell me that I don't sing to music. Any phony hearing person will shed tears and thought I was sent by the Almight. Only my close hearing friends would check whether it was a mockery....

If you check with my hearing colleagues, my former hearing teachers or my hearing friends, they would tell you that I "can" talk. In the past (and today), I do use my voice only to impress hearing people that, as a born Deaf and Dutch, I've mastered the English language after the age of 10. I often stress that I'm sight-oriented, not sound-oriented, because my skills in lipreading is a null. Only wild guesses!

Yes, I am proud of Gallaudet University because it began as the National Deaf Mute College in 1864. The most famous deaf mute who witnessed the inauguration of this very special institution was Sophie Fowler Gallaudet, the Matriarch of Deaf Intellectualism.

May Sophie Fowler Gallaudet be a role model for all deaf mutes.

Closet Audists

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder realizes there are many closet audists in deafhood.

Why Must Deaf People Read Lips?

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder talks about lipreading and police brutalities in 1970s as well as recent as Doug Bahl's time.

My Blog Confession

I have a confession to make. I do blogs when I am on the road. I know it's wrong but I'm so addicted. It's different from doing AIM in that I just write and I stop writing when I have to.

But I have some thoughts I'd like to record in writing. So here are my thoughts "on the road."

Vlogs are time-wasters that get in the way of true thinking, not to mentioning learning American Sign Language, right?

I don't think so. Instead, I believe vlogs provide rich language acquisition environments that can be used in innovative and engaging lessons, supporting learning and appealing to the learning characteristics of ASL acquisition...and I've been showing how to do it. An old classmate of mine just asked if she could use my ASL Dragon stories to teach her students.

ASL vlogs also create rich language learning environments in which the audience must seek information through the language and culture of the Deaf.

Shock, Denial, Withdrawal, Contemplation and Acceptance

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder presents five stages for Ella Lentz's claim of the term, deaf mute: shock, denial, withdrawal, contemplation, and acceptance.

Can They Really Say That? Can We?

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder ponders whether he should tell he can talk? To Deaf peers? To hearing people?

ASL Students: Show Your Professor Your Work

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder explains why he found his students at work in his classroom when he arrived late.

Why DEAF MUTE Must Continue or Die

I would like to articulate our difficulties with the conception of DEAF MUTE and, in so doing, to take the first step toward a creative resolution. Ella Lentz of Ella's Flashlight signals a rousing call for a DEAF MUTE/deafhood enlightenment based on critical thought rather than blind speculation, on ASL rather than audiological and speech language services, and that focuses on Deaf people more than deafness.

I define myself above all other things as an avid user of American Sign Language. I am also a passionate ASL user. ASL is the ultimate reality in my life. I live in a constant and complete awareness of the language and culture of the Deaf. I have the sense of ASL's inescapable-ness.

ASL is a very hard language to define. From parts of signs to discourse and dialogue, every definition of ASL is incomplete or contradictory. ASL is completely unique--a language that has no parallel anywhere. By way of Deaf communities, ASL may be called a language of Deaf intellectualism.

The power of ASL lies in its ultimate ability of language borrowing. It is helpful to have not just one perspective, but two or three, so that one can have a sense of the multiplied and often contradictory sides of this very complex language. Take the nation anthem or the Lord's Prayer for example. Since they are frozen, we can sign "word by word." ASL allows us to borrow the English word order temporarily, and when we are done with the song or prayer, this power of language borrowing simply ends. Take an unabridged dictionary, and sign or fingerspell every single word in the book and then sign on with classifiers. yes, ASL vocabulary does exceed the English language.

There is a short Jewish story I thought is a good application to this blog. "Some people wear their faith like an overcoat. It warms only them but does not benefit others at all. But others light a fire and also warm others." We have been fortunate to sit by the fire of many Deaf vloggers who empower us to be alive and to continue the DEAF MUTE manifestation that ASL is essential in our communication.

This'n'That - get the how-to video at PubTricks.com!

This is fascinating!

ASL Dragon's Treasure Chest

A storytelling vlog: Sooket tells children about ASL Dragon's treasure chest.

Three Stages of Learning Cycle and the Hour Glass

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder talks about the three stages of learning cycle that benefit his ASL students. He also tells why he mentions the hour glass.

Learning Spiral and Meaning Makers in ASL

In this ASL vlog, Carl Schroeder asserts what takes learning in order to make new meanings.

Can You Read My Hand?

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder recalls a joke he shared with his colleague at Montgomery College in Maryland.

Let's Get Out of Dualistic Way of Thinking

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses that we can pursue higher level of thinking. He's influenced by William Perry's work. Visit http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/

Teaching Deaf Children Critical Thinking

The purpose of specifically teaching Deaf children to think critically in all subject matters is to improve the thinking skills of Deaf children and thus better prepare them for the next level of cognitive development.

While we the deaf mutes have the ability ourselves to think critically, many Deaf children today never develop critical thinking skills. Why? There are a number of reasons. The first goal of Deaf education is so traditionally obvious that instructors may focus all their energies and efforts on the task of teaching Deaf children according to the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) contract, emphasizing often on teaching them "how to hear and talk" with amplification and cochlear implants. Indeed, many Deaf children find that this goal alone is so overwhelmed that they feel oppressed. The second goal of Deaf education is to accommodate needs of most parents of Deaf children who are generally ignorant of American Sign Language (ASL). Teaching Deaf children how to think is so subtle that both parents and instructors fail to recognize ASL and Deaf children are unable to study the language and culture of the Deaf in depth.

Deaf children are not born with the power to think critically. Thinking critically is a learned behavior that must be taught as early at a stage as possible. It is an ability to think for one's self as a Deaf individual. Critical thinking is an active process involving the use of ASL.

Philosophy and Deaf Children

I firmly believe that Deaf children can learn how to think about thoughts. Each person who thinks is essentially a philosopher. With educational guidance according to a new research, I believe Deaf children might make a great progress in intellectual life.

My only criticism of this research report is that it is not clear whether it has proper control groups in which comparisons are made between children who get the philosophy instruction and those who don’t. Yet, I am enthused in teaching Deaf children how to think in much depth because it would require American Sign Language (ASL) being essential in communication.

My biggest concern is that in my enthusiasm to embrace good news about teaching Deaf children philosophy, we end up selling it on the basis of its instrumental benefits. Philosophy for Deaf children then becomes something to do with American Sign Language, not because big questions bug them, but because it will make them cleverer and more socially adjusted. It’s like the claims that philosophy makes them happier. Maybe it does, though on balance I doubt it. But even if it does, philosophy’s primary goal is truth, or the nearest thing to truth they could have got, not subjective feelings of well-being.

ASL is a natural language. After all, it’s not very philosophical to abandon all skepticism in the face of impressive claims. By the way, some of you may have developed the antithesis of DEAF MUTE enlightenment. I want Deaf children to know there are hearing mutes so that they can start to think about their disability.

I could easily imagine such debates among Deaf children that hearing mutes would benefit greatly from ASL, which could be very progressive. Unless Deaf people wish to disassociate themselves from the truth of mute, they would remain phony. And I don't really want Deaf children be phony about being a mute.

Can You Read Lips? Yes But ...

Last Thursday I had an honor to accompany Frank Parker who is the (hard-of-hearing) headmaster of Horizons Academy of Maui to a reception in honor of a new school principal, Ms. LeeAnn DeLima, at Kamehameha School Maui. It was a great Hawai’ian celebration, and numerous influential people came to this ceremony.

While waiting in the line to congratulate Ms. DeLima, we had some small talks with people around us. Right behind us was a lady by the name of Ms. BJ Alexander, who is the CEO of Kamehameha Schools in all Hawai’i. She was very sociable and friendly. Upon discovering that I am Deaf, she quickly asked if I could read lips. I answered yes but explained that it would be a lot of work and that I would miss a lot of it. She would have to speak to me very slowly. I told her I use American Sign Language. She was very impressed and we talked a little bit about teaching the language and culture of the Deaf and Deaf Education in general.

When it was our turn to meet and congratulate Ms. DeLima, I got very excited. Frank Parker introduced me to her, using as much ASL as he could. I could sense how impressed she was because she offered me a kiss. I became flippant.

We received a token of appreciation from the school, and I would like to share it with you:

Aloha

love, affection, compassion, sympathy

Love and respect for the Lord, our natural world, and one another, is our foundation.

‘Imi na’auao

to seek enlightenment, wisdom, and education

The quest for knowledge and enlightenment is essential for an educational institution such as Kamehameha.

Malama

to care for, to protect, to maintain, to attend to

Caring for one another and all aspects of Pauahi’s legacy, will enable our institution to flourish.

‘Ike pono

‘Ike—to know, to see, to feel, to understand, to comprehend, to recognize

Pono—righteous, appropriate, moral, goodness, proper, fair

Urges us to integrate our intellect and our intuition.

Kuleana

privilege, responsibility, area of responsibility

Denotes the responsibilities, which accompany our blessings.

Ho’omau

to preserve, to perpetuate, to continue

Let us perpetuate the legacy of Ke Ali’I Pauahi.

Ha’aha’a

humility, humbleness, modesty

Let us persevere with humility in all that we do.

From Kamehameha Schools Strategic Plan 2000-2015

Misquoting Ella

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses his understanding of the term DEAF MUTE.

Language = Intelligence

American Sign Language and the users of ASL are now the iconic representations of the Deaf community in the United States of America and most Canada. See an image of an user of ASL on a vlog and everyone will recognize that he or she is Deaf. Everybody loves ASL. But just what is it?

ASL is the language and culture of the Deaf that does not come into being from a vacuum but has a long, interesting history. Mentioned first in Plato's book Cratylus, published 2,400 years ago, sign language was perceived as the language of the mutes. It enhanced and interpreted the meaning of the words, according to Socrates, implying that anyone with language possesses intelligence. Signs described the many aspects of the observed; their meaning in the phenomena of nature. Horses galloping, birds flying high, all could be expressed in signs. When the user of sign language reproduced the motion of winds she or he was describing a particular thing, and she or he took on the observed. The sign became the wind in the fingers.

Confronted with these users of ASL, hearing people who believe that deafness can be erased out of humanity ultimately banned the use and practice of ASL in educational settings where they are entertaining power. ASL became ostracized and marginalized into the schoolyard. But it never died out and a handful of deaf mutes carried on the traditions and preserved the language and culture of the Deaf.

When Gallaudet University began to solicit funds to build Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) without mentioning ASL on campus, we the vloggers and bloggers came out, bringing out of hiding many users of ASL. By so doing we also cemented our claim to ASL by reclaiming the National Deaf Mute College origin. Let's begin where we the deaf mutes are.

DISCRIMINATION, DISCRIMINATION

Great Deaf people that's good for you--that's the foundation of the sign language and cultural acquisition and the reason millions of Deaf people around the world know them. However, when it comes to Deaf versus hearing in the term of employment hiring, there seem more rages about selecting Deaf over hearing, which is very strange. Read comments in David Martin's blog (link) and mine (link). If hearing is hired over Deaf, would there be any rage?

As ASL Program coordinator, I once had two final applicants, and it was Deaf versus hearing. The office of Human Resources advised that the applicant with appropriate credentials in the field of ASL be hired. Although both applicants hold a master's degree, the hearing applicant provided us with her certificates indicating that she studied ASL. The Deaf applicant had no certificate. The envelope, please.

The winner is a hearing applicant. Stand up. Hand-waves.

DISCRIMINATION, DISCRIMINATION

No, not really. We the Deaf mutes are simply outsmarted.

Hearing ASL Instructor

Carl Schroeder shares his experience in dealing with students complaining to him about their hearing ASL instructor.

The Saddest Moments of the Deaf

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses two saddest moments affecting the Deaf. Socrates recognized intelligence among Deaf mutes in Plato's book Cratylus. Jane K. Fernandes promoted craziness at Gallaudet University.

ASL Is an Art That Grows

In my work, I talk about three stages of American Sign Language (ASL) acquisition. First-stage ASL acquisition is dualistic. It's right or wrong ASL. It's for your own personal need to know how to use ASL properly for information, knowledge and communication--whenever you're using ASL to get your own satisfaction.

We can grow beyond that into the second stage of ASL acquisition, which is about diversity within ASL. It is about multiplied subject matters. In the second stage, users of ASL become so diverse about their career, experiences and contributions. To learn to talk about different things in life is very challenging.

My work also includes third-stage ASL acquisition, which is about the relativism that connects different issues to each other. I tell people, "Use ASL and realize its potential for your part in all subject matters."

No one becomes a great artist without practice. That's also true of acquiring ASL. Don't just expect that if you use ASL, it will grow. It does not. ASL acquisition is an art that grows through practice. Learn to use ASL to talk about different things about life and see how they are related to each other.

Hearing Mutes Are People, Too!

n this vlog, Carl Schroeder thinks it's okay to be a Deaf mute.

SLCC or Raise the Flag of ASL

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder shares his thoughts about visiting other colleges and universities in order to appreciate ASL at Gallaudet University. We can learn from Indiana State University: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/07/programs

ASL Essentialism

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses that ASL is essential in communication for Deaf children.

No ASL in the magazine Teaching Exceptional Children

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder summarizes the article by Ann Sebald and John Luckner, "Successful Partnerships With Families of Children Who Are Deaf" in the Vol.39 No.3 issue of Teaching Exceptional Children.

Revisiting Carl's vlog, "MJ, Please Tell Us"

http://carl-schroeder.blogspot.com/2006/11/mj-please-tell-us.html

We the Deafmutes

The notion that we the deafmutes have to choose between academic freedom and visual-auditory communication when building SLCC at Gallaudet University is wrong. That is a false choice, and we must kick off an effort to hold public discussion on American Sign Language and ways to to turn the world away from a wrong view of reality that deafness is fixable and amplified for speech language.

ASL, of course, is controversial. People often question our motives, incorrectly perceiving us as "pagans who worships ASL." The truth is we the deafmutes are motivated by a commintment to giving our Deaf community a life free of language bigotry, hegemony and oppression. We're protecting our language and culture for our sake because it is the infrastructure of our communiyt, the Deaf community.

When peope use ASL, they are choosing reality and one issue does not have to pit the other. Anti-ASL is against all languages. They're never going to like Gallaudet University, and they're never going to like ASL users. They are essential racists, and there's nothing we the deafmutes can do about that.

We the deafmutes recognize ASL enriches us. We are today the most misunderstood people in the world, that is not an exaggeration. SLCC at Gallaudet is a project built on erratic and misunderstood priorities for language and communication of the Deaf.

Ron Slams Gallaudet on SLCC; Amy Goes Furious; Ella Goes Deaf-Mute

For weeks, Ron Fenicle harshly criticized Gallaudet University's attempts to sack American Sign Language (ASL) in the Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) project, saying it would embrace the language and culture of the "Deaf Absolutists." Cohen Efron vlogged that Gallaudet Univsersity had excluded ASL in its "buy-a-brick" fundraising project for SLCC. Ella Lentz in her recent DEAF MUTE vlog reminds that Gallaudet University began as National Deaf Mute College.

There's no need for us to buy an SLCC brick. It has now become the symbol of prevailing feeblemindedness at Gallaudet University. Every single brick donated to build SLCC shall forever represent a huge language and communication hoax. It's not the smart thing to buy any of these SLCC bricks.

Ron Fenicle's vlogs were privately monitored by both Sorenson and Gallaudet to attempt to thwart the will of the alumni to listen to him. Amy Cohen Efron's "furious" vlog became the wake-up call, and together we will have the debate that focuses on building up our DEAF-MUTE identity, language and culture--our deafhood.

We must preserve unity and consistency in challenging the world to turn away from a wrong view of reality. Jeffrey of The Deaf Jeff has it eloquently correct that Gallaudet University MUST now shut up about visual-auditory language speculations.

Language and communication overhauls may be only hope for SLCC with low supports from the alumni. All we see right now is the language and culture of the National Deaf-Mute College being depleted year after year after year. A return to the "Deaf-Mute College" would apply Deaf methodology and expertise to increase understanding and practical use of ASL, and to assure stewardship and awareness of the ASL-English interdependence.

Don’t donate any money for an SLCC brick.

SLCC and FEEBLEMINDEDNESS

This is another angry vlog about SLCC and feebleminded faculty and staff at Gallaudet University. How in this vast universe was Jane K. Fernandes awarded a tenure? Beat me!

You Are Invited ... Horizons Academy of Maui

Bilingual Bicultural Education—ASL

Horizons Academy is holding an informational meeting concerning Deaf Education programs on Maui. Parents, educators and DOE are invited to this gathering. We will be offering information and sharing ideas.

Professor Carl Schroeder will be our guest speaker.

Monday, March 19
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Snacks provided.
Students welcome with parents.

Horizons Academy of Maui, Inc.
740 Haiku Road
Haiku, HI 96708

Please contact us for more information

Phone: 808-575-2954
E-mail: headmaster@horizonsacademy.org

The Horizons Academy of Maui is as Much ‘Ohana as School

To compliment our mission statement, Horizons is expanding its offerings to the deaf and hard-of-hearing students of Maui. We will use American Sign Language (ASL) as the language of instruction while developing a bicultural approach for our hard-of-hearing students.

Bilingual-Bicultural education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children allows children to use American Sign Language as their first language and English as their second. Deaf culture is created by ASL shared by the students and faculty. Deaf Culture is discussed for children to learn more about themselves and other deaf people. Our program will promote children to identify with deaf culture that has a common language instead of identifying themselves as deficient of hearing spoken English.

We will treat English and written English as two separate ways of communication and entirely separate from ASL. ASL is used for instructional purposes. This will create a language environment that is more consistent and complete for children to take on as their own way of understanding and being understood.

A day in the program might look something like this:

8:30-10:15
Language Arts, ASL, Visual Phonics, Reading, Library, Talking Pole, Vocabulary Development

Recess

10:35-11:20
Math

11:20-12:05
Social Studies

Lunch

12:45-1:15
English Language

1:15-2:00
Science

2:00-2:40
Extracurricular

2:40-3:00
How the Day Went

Democracy, Citizenry and Transparency at Gallaudet

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder (without a mad cap) responds to Jay Krieger's comment in his vlog, One Faith Less...

Are You Ready for Another Angry Vlog?

Another angry vlog about a new article in the January/February 2007 issue of Teaching Exceptional Children (Vol. 39 No. 3). The authors of "Successful Partnerships With Families of Children Who Are Deaf" (Ann Sebald and John Luckner) are totally irresponsible and inconsiderate of all Deaf children and their families!

A Gallaudet Humor for Saint Peter

There is a common theme in Gallaudet University humor (yes, there is such a thing): Gallaudet University is easy, Gallaudet University gets no respect, and Deaf people would rather be going there anyway. They are still true!

A friend of mine once claimed he was applying for a job when the supervisor asked which school he attended; when he answered he went to Gallaudet University, the supervisor laughed at his face, telling him he would need more schooling. We were not at all surprised, but we were disappointed by quality education we received at Gallaudet University.

There's no smoke without fire, of course, but there's another way to look at Gallaudet University. For all the complaints about poor information, knowledge and communication, most Gallaudet University alumni stick around. I don't know why the jokes circulate--maybe it's simply a humor common to the Deaf community, or maybe it's just the people I hang around with--but if the Middle States Association for Higher Education is right, most of us are quite happy with the fact that students actually saved Gallaudet University last fall.

Alumni explain oppression at Gallaudet University, their beloved alma mater. They explain how to get by, how to forget what their hearing professors said or taught, how to fly through the college years. Sometimes American Sign Language (ASL) they are using is very complex; it may take a team of two or so interpreters to translate it accurately and intellectually, for example. Other times what is being explained is fairly simple: how to find a good, Deaf professor.

When Judgment Day finally comes true, and Saint Peter asks me, “What’d you do?” I’ll answer in ASL and with pride, “I’m a Gallaudet alumnus, and I’m just flying thru (loose translation).”

One Faith Less for Gallaudet University

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder ponders his friend's petition for one reason why she needs to keep faith for Gallaudet University. The way the January 13, 2007 letter from MSA was distributed to the Deaf world makes him think otherwise.

The Hawaiian of Old in ASL

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses his new contract to translate the book, The Hawaiian of Old, into ASL for Horisons Academy of Maui, a private school for students with diverse learning styles.

What Did Two Gallaudet Campus Upheavals Generate?

The mid-1960s through present were, in several respects, the heyday of the language planning paradigm. American Sign Language (ASL) researches allowed linguists to identify various cultural factors within the Deaf community and to place them in their proper timeline positions: from Socrates through St. Augustine; from L’Epee through Clerc; from Edward M. Gallaudet through Bob Davila.

In Washington, D.C., where Gallaudet University is based, there were two campus upheavals, 1988 and 2006, both of which were about the university presidency. The university presidency debate is still something of a catalyst for the Deaf world to worry: We worry not only about how to select someone, but also about how to build university presidency—higher education leadership that would address manifestations of ASL and Deaf Culture honestly. We also worry about advocating both professors and interpreters, both hearing, as they are genuinely interested in sharing their information, knowledge and communication by working with us, Deaf scholars.

Interpreting and translating between ASL and English is, of course, the central theme of our intellectual life virtually since the inception of the language planning paradigm. The ability to chronicle the ASL-English language interdependence prompted university student leaders to protest when they saw fit. The 1988 Deaf President Now demonstration was about the civil movement; the 2006 Better President Now demonstration was about the language and culture movement.

We have yet to present numerous insightful critical analyses of the language planning approach as generated by two campus protests in the past twenty years. How and why critical concepts of language planning were incorporated need to be discussed in detail, as are the language planning paradigm’s strengths and weaknesses. The framework for these analyses is going to be invaluable.

This carefully considered approach to the language planning strategy for ASL has become necessary for everyone concerned about the future of all the Deaf.

From a Wrong View of Reality to a Right One

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses how vlogging can shift our society from a wrong view of reality to a right one.

Keep the Seventh Hexagon Holy, Too!

A vlog about Carl Schroeder's favorite geometric form, hexagon, especially the seventh hexagon. He's influenced by a Kabbalistic view of the creation of this vast universe.

Ripple Effect and Feeble-Mindedness at Gallaudet

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder reflects ripple effect of the January 13, 2007 MSA letter that indicates non-transparency in democracy and education among feeble-minded faculty and staff at Gallaudet University.

IEP (Individual Education Plan) vs. ASL Rights

As an advocate of a Deaf child and his parents, I was given a copy of agenda for the upcoming IEP meeting which will be held in early March. It reads as follows:

Introduction
Rights to Due Process
Goals and Objectives
Extended School Year
Services
Supplement Aids
Testing
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Pre Written Notice

I was simply amazed by how this agenda is developed without mentioning American Sign Language and its embedded culture. While I understand ASL can be discussed in LRE, the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that we consider the LRE for each individual child with disability by providing this child with supplementary aids and services in public school. The 1997 Amendments to IDEA require that a child's IEP address the LRE issue. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 also prohibits discrimination against children with disabilities who attend public school. However, no where in these federal mandates can I find the justification of ASL as the language of instruction. ASL is neither a supplement nor an accessory; it is the language and culture of the Deaf.

ASL is a topic that has gained prominence rapidly among linguists and scholars in the fast few years, and also with the general public. We have become involved in ASL since the 1965 publication of William C. Stokoe’s first dictionary of ASL based on linguistic principles. ASL linguists have participated in this language research and created diverse pathways to preserve and promote ASL. However, it seems fair to say that ASL has not been a prominent focus within the fields of special education and Deaf education. The linguistics of ASL is even not very familiar to many special education/Deaf education professionals who may not share what we consider to be basic understandings in our language and culture.

This blog is a first step, a way to begin thinking forward, for people who wish to become involved with linguistics of ASL. I hope to provide a helpful insight for thinking about – and acting in – the emerging field of … well, what is it called, actually? ASL rights?

ASL Dominoes

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder introduces a new ASL game.

The Dog Named Fifty

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder shares one of his favorite childhood stories told in ASL. Morale: Lipreading can be costly...more than triple!

A Justified Anger and SLCC

A mutual friend of ours (that's yours and mine), Brian Riley, suggested that I write about my recent vlog, "An Angry ASL Vlog by Carl," because the newspaper media would ignore vlogs as they would be unable to understand any of them. Another mutual friend, Ella Lentz, agreed that my anger is justified. I would like to use this blog as a springboard to further discourse.

The January 13, 2007 letter from Middle State Association is many things. I'd summarize it to say that Gallaudet University had been operated on erratic priorities, driving Deaf scholars away from academic freedom and intellectual discourse in the language and culture of the Deaf, American Sign Language (ASL).

In 2001, five years before the 2006 GUFSSA protests, MSA began to concern about the direction in which Gallaudet University was navigating. The top three university administrators (according to the Administration & Operations Manual), President Jordan, Provost Fernandes, and Vice President Kelly, had deliberately ignored MSA by beginning to develop a huge project called Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) that successfully distracted Deaf professors like MJ Beinvenu, Jane Norman, Ben Bahan, Carol McCassick into patronizing the Deaf. These professors have nothing but praise for how ASL/Deaf-friendly and thematic the SLCC building would be, which has absolutely nothing to do with academics; they simply got ASL and Deaf Culture compromised into the first floor of the building. The SLCC project of the IKJ-JKF-PK administration spells a huge hoax, a big deviance from the 2001 MSA concern.

As a former MSSD graduate and also a former MSSD Alumni Association Executive Director, I was pretty upset by the fact that some MSSD students saw bulldozing of the student protestors by the Brentwood gate one early morning. Vice President Paul Kelly was also seen smiling ear-to-ear there, coordinating the assault. For this, Paul Kelly and his staff who were involved in the assault are to be terminated without benefits. By keeping him on Kendall Green, one has to be like an enabler of the abused.

The Board members, Tom Humphries and Ken Levinson, are two well known practitioners of audism. Humphries is the author of audism because he is mostly familiar with it. (Check both Carol and Maureen for the authenicity of his audism.) Levinson prides in his own ability to hear someone saying good morning to him. How stimulating! I sure hope Koko, the so-called signing primate, heard the same. Well, these Board members and Koko just need bananas.

We all know that the first impression is lasting. My initial impression of Pamela Holmes was never that great. When I was at Gallaudet in 1971, I saw her talking too much without using ASL. When I worked in Atlanta in early 1970s, she was also seen talking too much without using ASL. (Check Vincent also for verification.) Today I refuse to be fooled into thinking that she does not talk too much without using ASL. Ask why she got invited to serve on the Board. Answer why not: Pamela Holmes talks too much without using ASL. That's is her giftedness to Gallaudet University for many years.

Jane K. Fernandes told the media world that Gallaudet University's problems were caused by the "not deaf enough" card and by the Deaf absolutists. The Deaf community became an easy scapegoat since many hearing people do not know ASL and its embedded culture. Therefore, Fernandes decided the solution to Gallaudet University's problems was to get more money and to build SLCC. As Fernandes' power and support from the top administration and the Board grew, she began developing a university mission, using the English language to trivialize ASL. Upon her selection as the next president, she became the perfect trbute to give the world a mental image of the events in her life as a severely oppressed Deaf individual projecting a familiar saying, "hindsight is better than foresight."

JKF's "not deaf enough" card seemed to apply to the plight of the Deaf people using ASL. She must have started to fear that the Deaf would prevail the campus upheaval next. Feelings of distrust were soon directed at all Deaf people across the nation and around the world. On October 13, 2006, her supporters, Jordan and Kelly, ordered that approximately 140 activists be arrested outside the Sixth Street gate. Today, we agree that the issue of arresting the students is a "blot" on the history of Gallaudet University. I hope one day in the near future, Congress of the United States will issue an official apology to the arrested students and award them some money in compensation payments.

As a salute to the January 13, 2007 letter from MSA, I've written this blog to justify my anger expressed in my recent vlog, "An Angry ASL Vlog by Carl." We need to overhaul Sorenson Language and Communication Center to meet needs and wants of the Deaf Community, not the administration of Gallaudet University.

(I wrote this on the beach here. See the above picture. Yes, I am reading a good book, Native Son, by Richard Wright. A recommended reading for summer!)

An Angry ASL Vlog by Carl

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder reacts to the January 13, 2007 letter from Middle States Commission on Higher Education to President Bob Davila of Gallaudet University. The Board and Vice President Kelly MUST go!

ASL-English Translation Is Still Possible But ...

"One ought to recognize that the present political chaos
is connected with the decay of language. . . ."
--George Orwell, 1948

There are at least two reasons why the situation of American Sign Language-English translation matters to the entire intellectual community at Gallaudet University and elsewhere (NTID, CSUN, etc.). The first involves the role of language in a free society. Like English and its words, ASL is the skill of using signs charged with their utmost meaning. Both languages, along with Spanish, German and so forth, are very much part of the freedom of speech clause in the United States Constitution.

The second reason is that any society whose intellectual leaders lose the skill to shape, appreciate, and understand the power of ASL-English interdependence will become the slaves of those who retain it—be they, for example, members of GUFSSA (Gallaudet University Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni). The public responsibility of ASL-English language interdependence has been pointed out repeatedly by Deaf leaders and educators for many years.

Neither ASL nor English is an entire solution that keeps communication with the Deaf clear and honest. However, our society is hard pressed to imagine how to improve diverse modes of communication for the Deaf while marginalizing ASL and signing in the English word order. It is time to restore a vulgar vitality to ASL-English language interdependence and unleash the energy now trapped in the subculture of communication hoaxes. There is nothing to lose. Our society already told us that ASL is the language on which English can depend, and vice versa.

Good ASL-English translators are those who keep the language interdependence efficient. That is to say, keep both ASL and English accurate, keep them clean. It doesn't matter whether a good translator wants to be useful, or whether the bad translator wants to do harm. The situation of ASL-English interdependence matters to all intellectuals is that ASL and English can not be separated in their own language continuum.

The most serious question for the future of Deaf culture is whether ASL will continue to exist in isolation and decline to subsidized academic specialties or whether some possibility of rapprochement with the educated public remains. The ASL-English language interdependence must face the challenge, and no language faces more towering obstacles than both ASL and English. Given the decline of Deaf education, the proliferation of "not deaf enough" media, the crisis in Deaf education, the collapse of Deaf schools, and the sheer weight of past failures, how can ASL users possibly succeed in being heard? Wouldn’t it take an ASL-English translation miracle?

So there's always "if" and "but" in the ASL-English language disparity. However, through the ASL-English language interdependence, ASL-English translation becomes highly apparent.

I Can't Hear You

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder recalls his clash between a speech therapist and him in a public school. His daughter Vivienne made two 100% accuracies in her speech activity but the speech therapist thought otherwise.

A Public Forgiveness...

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder responds to Ben Vess' blog, A Public Apology.

We the ASL Vloggers

After May 2006, when Ms. Jane Fernandes became a president-designated at Gallaudet University, Deaf people all over the country felt the need for empowerment. Gallaudet University Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni (GUFSSA) was created to that end through various coalitions. One of the programs driven by the GUFSSA protests is the Coalition of Critique Inquiries (C2I) that hosted a blogging/vlogging conference two weeks ago.

Sixteen C2I panelists were invited to present their papers. They talked about how to incorporate high technologies in higher learning and teaching. They discussed what can be done, or should be done, as they challenge difficult learning situations and maximize using American Sign Language (ASL) by including the language and culture of the Deaf in high technology, especially television media and vlogging.

For those of you who have wished for an "ASL vlogsphere," there's no time like the present to get involved. Last week or two, we discussed vlogging for ideal audience. Next, you'll need to bring the camcorder for your moment of truth. What now!

I took this ASL vlogging business and was impressed by the quality and content of my fellow ASL vloggers. We seem to follow the philosophy of community response. It's extremely important for us to be able to respond to issues affecting our language and culture, but there will be situations resulting from general society or governmental agencies which will require education about deafness as a biological condition that alters Deaf people's minds because they call for a different channel--the sense of sight--through which information, knowledge and communication are conveyed. ASL vlogging is built around that concept.

Nature has tested our deafness in the past, and will continue to do in the future. It is not a matter of "if," but "what" deafness implies. We the ASL vloggers just need to offer our claims for our language and be prepared for counterclaims for language antitheses. There will always be people who believe that deafness can be erased by technologies as well as people who protect it for humanities.

How ASL Dragon Got its Name Sign?

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder reveals how ASL Dragon got its name sign. Sam Suppalla of Arizona came up with ita few years ago.

When Vlogging in ASL, I Paused

The story I told required good, clear American Sign Language (ASL). Glancing at my screen, I found it being difficult. Thinking ASL must still be good and clear, I went ahead and completed my story.

Using ASL exclusively means different things to different people. For example, I asked ten people the first word that comes to mind about ASL when I use the sign WHY. There was an overwhelming response of Deaf-culture-related comments like CLARITY, COMMUNICATION, COMPASSION, and COMMUNITY. Why then, when I asked myself this same question, did I get the response CONFUSION? This was accompanied by a gut feeling of "language confounding."

After some reflection on the matter, I realized that my response may have come from a wounded part of myself still enacting its script in my life. The script foes something like this: I was in the same room with two hearing colleagues whose skills in ASL were mediocre, and I could only understand half of what they were talking about. It happened (and still happens) all the times.

My professional self has done a tremendous amount of doubling burden: making myself clear and making sure these colleagues understand what I am trying to say or mean. However, the fact remains that both my hearing colleagues and I are still confused at work.

You see, I have been living as a Deaf individual well schooled in language and leisure. The language I acquired tends to be sight-based: it has to be signed to me; or I am totally lost in any spoken language, be it English or Spanish. I am definitely not sound-oriented.

The language confusion is not a permanent condition. It takes work, but with patient and gentle intention, we can undertake the respect that allows ASL to flow. When I embark on vlogging in ASL, I find the richest gift I am given: a true connection with my own community--Deaf people.

John Egbert's MindField: A Book Review

John Egbert’s MindField is a must read novel.

Some of the best and boldest writing about what if our nation turned deaf? Hilarious and relevant, full of political games and yet passionately honest, this book represents the best contemporary of a Deaf literature.

I sat on the edge of my chair, immersing myself in everything in it. All roads in this book lead to The White House where they get educated about the language and culture of the Deaf, namely, American Sign Language, and its communication antitheses. Imagine listening to this media presentation: "Most of you are newly deaf." From Audism to Oralism, John Egbert introduces numerous stereotypical terms not found in contemporary dictionaries and encyclopedia.

Although I have some problems with following the storylines for the book conclusion, no one's ever written this way about the real Deaf world before. Maybe it was because no one's ever understood.

Carl Schroeder, the owner of Kalalau's Korner

ASL Storytelling: The First Humans in Hawai'ian Myth

In this ASL vlog, Carl Schroeder tells about a Hawai'ian myth about the first people.

From My ASL Vlogging to You

When I first started vlogging, all I wanted to do was use American Sign Language (ASL). All my life, all I had ever wanted to do was tell stories. Even in Effatha, a school for the Deaf in the country of my birth, The Netherlands, I loved being the center of attention. Yes, today in Hawai'i, I discovered this business of vlogging.

I was never really aware that there was a process to how the business of vlogging works. I just kept vlogging as often as I could. I thought that as a storyteller all I really had to do was tell a story again and again, which could, hopeful, lead to compassion for ASL. It seemed like a simple enough concept for me.

Not until much recent did I realize that there is a big difference between a vlogging hobby and a vlogging responsibility. I spent my early months as a "hobby vlogger" going from one story to another, from one perspective to another. But then I wanted more. I wanted that responsibility. I wanted to be a "responsible vlogger."

Looking back on it, I'm grateful for the opportunities that were given to me and for those that I generated. I believe that things happen when they are meant to happen, but I sometimes wonder how much sooner the responsible part of my vlogging life would have come along had I been aware that I needed to do more than just be the best storyteller I knew how to be. I was busy holding down up to three jobs to make ends meet on this beautiful, rural island of Maui in Hawai'i.

I learned that vlogging was more than just telling stories. I learned that in order to preserve and promote ASL, I need to know how the business of vlogging works. I need to know what expectations the vlogging business will have of me. I also need to follow my instincts and the advice of those around me whose opinions I value and whose input I trust. Any comment with the f-word or vulgarity, for example, belongs in a trash can.

I've been very blessed with a wonderful audience that humbles me. I also know that you can vlog, too. What matters is how you approach the business of vlogging. Take care of it, use ASL, maintain your focus, and opportunity will find you.

I wish you success and a long-running series of your own vlogs!

The Business of ASL Vlogging

The business of American Sign Language (ASL) vlogging rarely has anything to do with whether you have any talent as a storyteller. I contend, instead, that it has everything to do with using ASL.

Have I lost you already? Let me now explain my philosophy.

There is a huge difference between talent and skill. They don't belong in the same sentence, really. That is why your vlog depends so critically on you being able to understand the difference between the two and to understand what that difference means to you.

Either you are born with talent or you are not. Either you have the gift or you do not. Actually, whether or not you have talent does not really matter if you want to be a vlogger. Many might disagree, but I contend that it certainly will not be the deciding factor in your vlogging. In fact, sometimes having talent can be detrimental to a vlogger. Many might disagree with that, too. But I contend this is also true. You'll understand why and how not to let your talent interfere with your vlog later.

What you are not born with, you acquire. While talent itself cannot be acquired, the skills to propel you forward in this vlogging business can be learned. In reality, it is the skills you develop, not the talent you have, that will make the difference between whether you just get a series of stories or build a vlog the way you want it to be.

In this vlogging business, play your cards right. Or you can run the risk of not even getting credibility at all. Making mistakes is okay, but admit them is better! You will not go it alone. We the vloggers will be with you through every step.

An ASL Vlogger's Code of Ethics (Draft)

We the Deaf live by a set of morals, standards and ethics that define our lives, our language and culture, American Sign Language (ASL). Add to the personal credo that guides you there seven proclamations that will help your focus, your concentration and your attitude along your ASL vlogging career:

1. Be respectful of fellow vloggers and helpful to them.

2. Be supportive of fellow vloggers, not competitive against them.

3. Celebrate the successes of fellow vloggers with them and not be jealous or envious of what may at first seem to be their good fortune.

4. Recognize that no fellow vlogger has the ability to take away from you any opportunity that is meant to be yours.

5. Never doubt your ability and be true to your own passion.

6. Give back to ASL in ways that say you value what you have gotten from it.

7. Remember that tomorrow is another day.

Angels for Deaf Children

What if we have angels?
Walking right beside us...
And telling us everything?

What about Deaf children?
Are they telling us about life...
When we're too blind to see?

Do you think angels are there?
They're for the taking I do.
What do we just say about you?

Is there really just a chosen few?
They can see the other side.
Is there really only way for us?

Why do you think they're there for the taking?
Well I do because I'm made to see.
Oh that's just me, and what about you?

ASL without Facial Expression is Difficult

Another art vlog by Carl Schroeder. It's hard, and by the end, Carl has to show his face.

Art in ASL: Storytelling without Facial Expression

An art vlog by Carl Schroeder about springtime.

Pilgrims and Pioneers Taught Us to be Humble

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses what we the vloggers can learn from our pilgrims and pioneers.

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in ASL

Per numerous email requests, this vlog discusses Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Basic Needs, Safety Needs, Belongingness Needs, Esteem Needs, and Self-Actualiaation.

Plato's Book Cratylus ... and Aristotle

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder explains Socrates in Plato's book Cratylus and how Aristotle influenced Deaf education for many centuries.

New Ethics in Deaf Blogsphere: Toward Language Sentience

Whenever a group of Deaf people get together in a community, eventually they formulate a body of rules to govern life in the community. Sometimes these are written down in a carefully worded form of English, which may prove to be hideous to many Deaf people. Sometimes they are expressed in American Sign Language (ASL), which may be confusing. In any case, they are called “ethics.”

Language ethics are concerned with more than just ASL and the culture in which Deaf people interrelate with each other. Different people treat ASL in ways consistent with their differing world-views. Some treat ASL with little sensitivity because in their world-view ASL doesn’t hold water unless it is translated into English. They lack any kind of awareness that ASL has its own linguistic entity.

Strictly speaking, ethics are rules for communal harmony. In order to have true “language ethics,” we must recognize ourselves as members of an interdependent community with other “individuals using the English language.”

Deaf blogsphere is fragile. In recent weeks there has been growing concern for its protection. Attempting to establish an intellectual basis for Deaf people, we need to turn to other culture for alternative views and insights. Let me briefly touch on some of these views, considering their similarities and contrasts with Deaf mentality.

Both ASL and the English language, with their linguistic principles, offer a good paradigm for language sentience. For example, all words from other languages can find their way into the English language. Chinese cuisine is a favorite example of mine for the English language. Linguists call it language borrowing. In ASL, my favorite expression is to sign each word in this English statement: I love you very much (click here). In ASL, I simply borrow the English word order completely but I lack the English intonation. So I don’t sound English in my signing at all.

Since language sentience is such an important aspect of Deaf blogsphere, let us look at a few more example of how ASL, be it the language or a piece of artistic expression (click here), can get lost in translation. No question about it!

We the Deaf interrelate and depend on ASL in order to accomplish many tasks. Some vivid examples were found during the Blogging-Vlogging Future of Gallaudet University conference, and among the presentations, Mike McConnell, speaking for himself, showed the qualities of the language sentience through technologies five years from today. Since his interpreter conveyed Mike’s message clearly, I’d quote a Hawai’ian priest, “The omens are good. Tomorrow we will make a haul.”

In my conclusion, Deaf blogsphere requires all the argument and ridicules that we could employ both ASL and English, to make the world believe we are equally proficient in both languages. Honestly, I cannot do this essay in ASL.

Are You My Mother? (P.D. Eastman)

I love to translate for not only Deaf children, but also ASL students. Some critics will notice that I don't use the sign BIRD.

You Can Be a Good ASL Linguist

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder presents two samples for the sign BABY. Which one is ASL-like? Helpful hint: Look at the thumb position...which looks more like the manual B? Why and how are they different in these samples?

Be My Valentine in ASL

A vlog greetings on Valentine's Day

New ASL Drink for Sale

In this vlog, a new ASL drink is introduced.

Plato's Warning Revisited

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder revisits Plato's warning many centuries ago.

My First Visit

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder recalls his first visit with his American classmate for a weekend.

A Hawai'ian Fish Story and ASL Vlog

I’ve given a great deal of thought about captioning, subtitling or transcribing my vlogs. I need to carry on cultural traditions of the Deaf, but this perhaps is carrying thoughtfulness and sensitivity to nature of ASL to an extreme. I found a story told in Hawai’i I thought would make a great analogy for my decision not to include captioning, subtitling or transciption.

Here it goes: “If one meets a Hawai’ian fisherman loading his nets and gear into his truck, he never asks if the man is going fishing. He might ask if the man is going holoholo (out for a ride), or he might ask if he’s going to the mountains. But if he asks if the man is going fishing, the man will take his gear back out of the truck, and that will be the end of the fishing for the day. For the fish will ‘hear’ and know that the fisherman is coming, and they won’t be there when he gets to the sea.”

No one is expected to really believe this story. A common reaction to reading something such as this is to dismiss it as a “fish story,” as something told to fascinate children and tourists about the Hawai’ian tradition. Such an attitude is not new in Hawai’i. In the past, many traders and missionaries who arrived in the islands thought in the same way, and they began to teach Hawai’ians to read, write, speak and think as “modern Westerners.” They also repudiated (and still do) Hawai’ian culture. This negative attitude toward Hawai’ian thought and customs has prevailed among most of the Americans, and today many Hawai’ians feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when their cultural practices are discussed.

I came to realize that the Hawai’ian truly experiences the world differently. Anyone who believes that fish "hear" obviously experiences and reacts to the world differently from one who does not.

In ASL, I am alive, conscious, and able to be communicated with, and it has to be dealt with that way. I participate in a community with all Deaf people, a community in which we have rights and responsibilities of our own language and culture. To understand ASL, one must move into his or her thought framework and see ASL from his or her perspective. This requires venturing into a perspective entirely different from the English language, and using ASL at least for a while.

Morale: If you get to meet a user of ASL preparing a vlog, you must never ask if the user is also adding captioning, substitling or transcription to the vlog. Or it’s going to be a “fish story.”

An Art Vlog (inspired by Shakespeare)

That that is is...
(http://nfs.sparknotes.com/twe lfthnight/page_192.epl)

ASL Vlogging for Beginners

The goal of this vlog is to assist individuals in confronting

the first stages of the ASL vlogging realm. This unique method

of vlogging, which encourages using ASL and sharing stories

with others, not only helps overcome the trials and tribulations

of everyday life of the Deaf, but initiates a process in which

Deafhood can be maximized.

Carl Schroeder,
Owner of Kalalau’s Korner

Introduction

The laws of nature, our place in the world, our language and culture, and our behavior have been studied by interlopers for hundreds of years.

Along with unwarranted assumptions, these interlopers use quantifiable research and data to establish direct relations between degrees of deafness and the speech language. Yet our linguists and researchers have discovered that the more they learn about ASL, the more obscure and confusing they find our world to be.

This video (click here) discusses how limiting scientific research can be. It cannot reach what is within Deaf people.

By reading and watching this v-blog, you will be able to take your first steps in understanding the world of ASL vlogging.

What is ASL Vlogging?

ASL vlogging is a method of sharing information, knowledge and communication ASL users wish to tell the reason why they exist as Deaf people, where they come from and where they are going after they complete their vlogs.

All experimentation is conducted on themselves, within themselves. (Click here)

ASL vlogging deals with the Deaf world, the roots of our feelings and thoughts, which we wish our audience to grasp. ASL vlogging is also a system for evaluating our feelings and thoughts, which are combined with intellect. ASL vlogging encourages us to attain everything we are capable of, as thinking beings, the highest of all creatures.

Why ASL Vlogging? (Click here)

Everyone has a natural ability to document anything about themselves. But if they want to understand, and try to do so in vlogging, they invokes their audience, who correct or critique them. The terms “to correct” and “to critique” are used to describe a change in the desire to receive, i.e., to acquire the qualities of ASL. (Click here)

Who Can Watch ASL Vlogs?

ASL vlogs are open to all. It is for those who truly wish to correct and critique themselves in order to attain quality in the language and culture they know the best. (Click here)

Conclusion:

ASL vlogging is ideal if it lets ASL be without being interfered by another language.

A Deaf Incident in Florida

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder recalls a family trip in Florida where they met a Deaf man who wanted to know about a driver's license.

Some Thoughts about Language Perplexity

I'm writing this blog on the beach, the very first place I wanted to be when I returned from cold Maryland. I've been reading emails as well as blogs in DeafRead.com during three major delays in my flight from BWI to LAX. I was unable to visit all vlogs in SidekickII which is very limiting. Here’s my photo, ;-)


Right now I am writing my response to an apparent incongruity of scientific and philosophic modes of thinking, on the one hand, and with traditional "Deaf Culture" categories of thought, on the other hand. I realized that far more Deaf people today than in 1950's (when I was born) are aware of the possibility of such a language and culture oppression. And it is not uncommon for my readers to open my blog or vlog with some hope of discovering whether that it indicates the possibility of some guidance in what I sometimes regard as intellectual problems. Usually these hoped are disappointed, and the reader comes away wondering whether the art of the work is to diminish or to increase language perplexity.

There are three possible reasons why this is so. One involves language translations; a second involves backgrounds; and the third and most important concerns Gallaudet University as the academy of our own.

Regarding translations:

There is a natural tendency on the part of a translator to confuse literalism with accuracy. When consistently followed, this tendency can render any translation of ASL unintelligible. ASL syntax is not English syntax; and, as every translator must admit, the unit of meaning is the sentence, not the sign in ASL. Signs in ASL, like signs in Gebarentaal (my mother's tongue), have numerous senses; and, since the set of senses attached to a given term in ASL does not always correspond exactly with the set attached to another term in English, it is impossible to translate from ASL to English simply by subtitling.

Regarding background:

It is no longer possible to presume that those who have reached the point of articulating a philosophical perplexity as to the possibility of intelligence have no grounding in ASL. I regard the acquisition of ASL as prerequisites to any comprehensive inquiries if one wishes to pursue a different channel, SIGHT, which is probably the most perplex of all, to get totally immersed in the language and culture of the Deaf.

Regarding Gallaudet University:

As a former student leader--SBG president, Buff and Blue columnist, and Kappa Gamma Fraternity Tahdheed--and a former professor--developmental English, college composition, and honors seminar--, I can easily verify and vouch that Gallaudet University is a place where ASL and the English language meet eyeball-to-eyeball. In SBG, for example, we often debated how ASL is best translated into the English language in the motions in Student Senate. However, this supposedly exemplary cross-language modality has been hindered and impaired by an oppressive university communication policy which invents and insists that ASL be used with voicing, a strategy that not only excuses hearing professors with mediocre skills in ASL, but also robs Deaf people of their intellectual development. Gallaudet University’s communication policy is a hoax.

All in all, language perplexity occurs when ASL meets another language, be it a spoken or sign language. My philosophy about mastering ASL is to know how to translate from it into another language. Communication is not a language, because even a wink (see in my first paragraph above) is a form of communication.

Why Vlogging Is Good for Your Health?

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses his reasons for vlogging. Be free to do it!

No Video Phone in the Office of Provost?

During the Blogging-Vlogging Future of Gallaudet University conference in Washington, DC, Interim Provost Mike Moore shared his experience about his office. When he began his interim appointment, he discovered that there was no video phone (VP) in the office of provost which was previously occupied by but one "not deaf enough" Jane Fernandes. It even took a while to negotiate the installation of VP in his office, which seemed absolutely ridiculous.

How was it possible? Why did it happen at Gallaudet University? Why negotiate? What are politics of VP? Does it mean that not all people working with the Deaf have a VP on their desk? Are hearing people exempted from using a VP? Was Provost Jane Fernandes inclusive enough without a VP in her office...in her leadership? Why then did IKJ write a letter of support for her university presidency, knowing fully that she's completely inaccessible without a VP in her administration? How did the BoT find her qualified if her office doesn't have a VP?

There might be two bad excuses for not having a VP in the provost's office. The first is theoretical. Many JKF supporters say that it was not essential to keep JKF inclusive and accessible because of the diversity that would ensure more major audistic efforts by marginalizing ASL, and hence more oppression.

The second excuse for not installing a VP in Provost JKF's office is practical: there is little room to hire more Deaf professionals. Gallaudet University already has one of the biggest academic deficits among colleges and universities. How many hearing people versus Deaf people are there in all academic departments? After 132 years of college education exclusive for the Deaf, I need to understand reasons why Gallaudet University remains unable to recruit its graduates to teach there. In fact, plenty can be achieved by the "diversity and inclusiveness" mission, rather than just precerving and promoting American Sign Language (ASL).

I was shocked when Mike Moore told us about no VP in Provost Jane Fernandes' office, which reflected a symptom of a deeply dysfunctional administration. Although there was some polite and nervous laughter in the audience, there was no stomach to take on the most disgusting story ever told about Deaf people. Audism did not work because VP was not in Provost JKF's office.

Gallaudet University is now heading in the right direction, but it has only gone a little way along what is clearly an ignorant path. To outsiders, that may not seem much worth worrying. But to some Deaf people, who know how oppressive life was before (and still is today), it is a good enough reason to enjoy a few martinis and celebrate JKF's final ouster.

The best use of Deaf America's new political power is to stop thinking so much in terms of being victims of audism, which is a diminishing problem, and start thinking in terms of ASL, which, alas, is a rapidly growing demand. We need to go beyond victim-hood and go into Deafhood.

Open Letter to DeafRead Editors

Dear Editors:

I am about to leave for this beautiful, rural island of Maui in Hawai’i. My flight from the Baltimore-Washington International airport will be at 6:25 am tomorrow. I am very excited to get back home again.

In Essays, the French Renaissance intellectual Michel Montaigne (1533-92), who devoted himself to the study of human nature, wrote:

“Someone asked Socrates where he was from. His reply wasn’t ‘I’m from Athens.’ Instead, Socrates replied, ‘I’m of the world.’”

Like Socrates, I am embracing the whole world as my place. Being an international individual, born in The Netherlands and naturalized in the United States, I think of myself as a citizen of the world.

When Professor Jill Bradbury of Gallaudet University asked me to come to the Blogging/Vlogging Future of Gallaudet University conference in Washignton, DC, I was greatly honored. In doing so, I decided to follow in Socrates’ footsteps at least in this respect: I shall not be a script speaker. I developed an outline, and I trust that someone in my audience write just like Plato wrote that makes Socrates the most famous thinker.

Now I do have this need to write the open letter to DeafRead editors. DeafRead has been publishing my blogs and vlogs since last fall, and I’ve made new friends, renewed friendship with some people I’ve known for years, and received numerous “fan” emails. DeafRead has taken my blogs and vlogs to places like Sweden and Australia. In all these dialogues, I hope to generate a greater understanding, from a cultural and linguistic standpoint, of American Sign Language and our role in our community.

Why vlogging and blogging? For me, they are like playing with thoughts and ideas. When Plato posed the question, “What then is life?” his reply was, “Life is to be lived as play.” My blogging/vlogging philosophy is like this:

I play; therefore, I blog/vlog.

To me, DeafRead is a playground for intellectuals. I believe that each blogger or vlogger is mostly creative and liberating in reaching out the society, making outstanding contributions to philosophy, and humanity.

DeafRead, you’ve made it all possible for not only bloggers and vloggers but also the world of the Deaf to have the same respect and sense of duty for “the wholeness” that there are no divisions between American Sign Language and its spoken and written counterpart English. In striving further to develop this wholeness, in becoming the world, you've enabled us to further our duty to our community, contributing to greater understanding of our language and culture. Thank you!

With aloha always,
Carl

Preserve ASL and Deaf Culture: A Lesson from History

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses the establishment of the University of Leiden in The Netherlands and how we can learn from it.

Textbooks and ASL

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder recalls his friend Psycholinguistics Professor Ben Tervoort of the University of Amsterdam. He spoke in Dutch but most of his textbooks were in English. We can do it in ASL here!

ASL and Truth Wars

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses claims and counterclaims in preparation for truth wars. We must prepare for claims of ASL as well as for counterclaims against it.

KNOW and Some Derivations in ASL

A healthy soul is not an end in itself,
but a means for the well-being of the intellect.

--Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon, 1135-1204)

In the introduction to this blog, I attempt to explain that American Sign Language (ASL) cannot be adequately rendered in English. I will demonstrate some signs to show that signs are assimilated by different linguistic parts to create specific meanings. Even though it may be clear and easily understood on the surface, to carry out what it means is not easy for all people, not are all of the intentions understandable without a lucid explanation. However, it leads to great perfection and clear knowledge, and I therefore saw fit to discuss it in details.

The difference between verb and noun signs when they are derived from each other is noticeable in the reduplication of the movement-hold (MH) modality in noun signs. For example, the verb sign EAT is a hold-movement-hold (HMH) modality, and the noun sign FOOD, being derived from the verb sign EAT, is a hold-movement-hold-movement-hold (HMHMH) modality.

The noun sign KNOWLEDGE, used with the reduplication of the MH modality, is derived from the verb sign KNOW which contains the HMH modality. The noun sign KNOWLEDGE usually means either "knowledge" or "opinion."

In ASL, when the noun sign FAMILIARITY is assimilated with a different location that is on the cheek, it has a variety of meanings, including "knowledge" as well as "intellect" but it also refers to a state of mind, an attitude with respect to a passion, and it can also be translated as "familiarity" or "character trait."

I have compared noun and verb signs, and discussed the assimilation of the noun sign with a different location. Here is another sign deriving from both the verb and noun signs that I would like to hear from you.

Benevolence toward Deaf People

In this vlog taped inside the Library of Congress taped on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, Carl Schroeder reveals graffiti as evidence of the benevolence of Gallaudet toward Deaf people as well as the language and culture oppression in disguise.

My Response to "My Silent Opinion!"

Aloha XXXX,

Good to hear from you! While I do respect your opinion, I would like to present my perspectives. Like you, I'm marveled by science and technology, and I do support researches to advance humanities.

As I read your email about all senses, I thought of making the Blind see all shades of green through technology. Possible? If we tell a blind guy that grass is greener on the other side of the fence, will he or she understand that it's not the color but the language that matters? Through technology, will the Blind be able to see the same shade of green that we see? I think not.

The ability to hear is biological. A hearing child learns how to locate the origin of what he/she hears. He/she also learns to listen to intonations of words. For example, RESpect is different from resPECT. He/she also learns how to distinguish between "Respect him!" and "Respect him?" Hearing these words is also different from listening to them.

Amplification and cochlear implants are high technologies, but they are not biological. I do wear eyeglasses because they correct my sight. I do not wear hearing aids or have cochlear implants because they do not correct my deafness.

Vlogging and TV media are excellent tools for the Deaf. We can advance our language and culture through these means. ASL can be interpreted and translated in the Court.

With aloha, Carl


http://carl-schroeder.blogspot.com/

--- On Thu 02/08, xxxx <> wrote:
From: xxxx [mailto: xxxx@gmail.com]
To: kal1952@myway.com
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 11:20:12 -0500
Subject: my silent opinion!

Hi Carl you might know I am very loyal to science and medicine technology since we are very pride as human beings to be successful... for example: when i was kid my pastor said God is perfect to make universe and everything so I look myself why human beings can't like him or her whoever... go ahead with our process... I know deafies don't like this idea what we can delete deafness through our future medicine but i really am proud about the human beings to understand our DNA problem... I hope you will know this situation to be crisis for deaf community... so the five senses are important to get together and save our time efforts also written languages. The visual language without written will be difficult I sometimes think how visual language can be able in the court system situation, we require the written record with straight and sense words like english...


Utilizing Emerging Technologies to "Level the Playing Field"

Emerging technologies already affect the teaching and learning processes in classrooms throughout the country. It took 38 years for radio to achieve 50 million users; personal computers took 16 years, and television took 13 years. However, it took the World Wide Web only four years to reach 50 million surfers (Porter, 2000). Technology now permits us to bring the entire world into the classroom. Just about any conceivable concept can now be illustrated and taught using the World Wide Web.

Computer networks are natural media for people who are deaf and hard of hearing because vast reservoirs of data and information are accessible for viewing on monitor screens. Unlike sound motion pictures or radio or early television, which by virtue of their reliance on sound were not interactive for those who could not hear, the Internet is almost completely accessible. Of course, we hope this will not change as technology continues its rapid development. We recognize that automatic speech recognition is making rapid progress and fear we could face a future dominated by "talking computers." That could be quite a setback.

Notwithstanding the powerful dominance of telecommunications and Internet technologies, interpreter services are among the most direct and effective services that will always be in demand. There can never be enough interpreters to meet the needs of persons who need their support. No machine can duplicate the skills of an efficient interpreter. In fact, interpreter quality now is being harnessed through a developing technology called video relay interpreting (Bailey, 1997). This system employs a remotely located interpreter who can be accessed through a regular telephone line connected to video equipment. The equipment required to access this remote service becomes more cost effective when more than one consumer shares it. The system is already in place in a number of rural locations throughout the United States.

Many advances in science and technology have benefited the work of professionals in deafness. The invention of the vacuum tube in 1917, for example, led to the invention of radio, television, and hearing aids. The vacuum tube was replaced by the transistor in the 1940's and paved the way for miniaturization, resulting in smaller, wearable hearing aids and more precise measurement devices, such as audiometers. Early diagnosis of deafness resulted from such advances. With the advent of semi-conductors, or microchips, we have seen a revolutionary shift from electromechanical to electronic technology, which increased speed and reliability of computers. Hearing aids that fit entirely in the ear and cochlear implants are improving because of these developments.

The operating microscope in the 1950s revolutionized middle ear surgery and provided relief from otosclerosis for millions of people. The newer electronic microscopes have enabled studies of individual cells and their performance and have made possible advanced hearing research.

In the future, we can predict that genetic research will result in the prevention and cure of many diseases. Human genome research, now complete, will lead to development and testing of vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and diagnoses that will aid in the prevention of deafness. Advances in DNA analysis and gene therapy will lead to the identification and replacement of defective genes (Robert Frisina, personal communication, May 15, 2000).

This could lead to ensuring in the distant future that every baby born will be a "perfect baby." Clearly, there will be some complex ethical issues that will need to be resolved.

ASL Dragon Day

In this vlog, Sooket and Gsibatzed celebrate ASL Dragon Day for all children.

ASL Dragon: Sooket Revisited

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder recalls the previous vlog about Sooket the Bridge Directress.

From Sunny Hawai'i to Sunny Maryland

Traveling from Hawai'i

to Maryland can be rough!

It's VERY cold here!

Vlogger-Blogger Interactive Learning Model Conclusion in Less Than 100 Words

The art of learning begins at birth, at first breath. Science informs us that it takes oxygen to generate the acquisitions of all senses. Deafness, whether total or only partial, is a biological condition that enhances the sense of sight, the other channel through which information, knowledge and communication are conveyed. For Deaf students, ASL-English language interdependence is a vehicle through which thoughts and ideas are examined and expressed in both languages. Vlogging-blogging interactive learning model may be an "intelligent technology strategy" in language sustainability, cultural well-being, and higher knowledge, all of which is to be instigated by professors.

IKJ's Continued Mismanagement: Scapegoating the Deaf

Patti Durr has a great piece on President Emeritus IKJ’s inability to “put down our weapons of words.” He has done a nice bit of seeking “to restore a sense of community” which has embraced Interim President Bob Davila. IKJ needs to create a label of some Deaf people his administration at Gallaudet University considers absolutists.

We the Deaf are no stranger to being a scapegoat. We know the unfairness and inaccuracy of the practice within Deaf Education, especially Gallaudet University, yet we ourselves also often manage to engage in scapegoating. “Not deaf enough” people scapegoat Deaf (uppercase D) people, to name but one example.

One thing to note about IKJ’s January 22, 2007 article here. It is the mindset that the IKJ administration was apart from the Deaf community. Most Deaf people, I think, consider Gallaudet University a device that they themselves have created and supported in order to preserve ASL and Deaf culture. In reality, however, IKJ saw Deaf people as individually responsible even for such matters as protests and arrests. And his vision of Gallaudet University denied them the ability to act together, collectively, in ways that not only pool individual resources (i.e. ASL), but also allow them to deal from a position of power (JKF). In other words, if students challenged the university’s “diversity and inclusiveness” mission, they were stripped of the power collective bargaining would give them in dealing with the administration. By writing his article, IKJ simply needs help to create a scapegoat.

When a society scapegoats Deaf people, they also put us into the English language oblivion. They banish us from their language by marginalizing ASL, by defining Deaf people, and by imagining that ASL and English have nothing in common. All of which, of course, makes it increasingly unlikely that we will ever instead get to know one another, ever look for our common humanity, ever discover the possibilities for ASL-English language interdependence.

Now is time to stop labeling and scapegoating. It was the mismanagement of the IKJ administration at Gallaudet University.

We Want Cookies

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder and his sister Meriam talk about their days in Holland and how they got their cookies.

Uncompromising Excellence and Credibility

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder discusses two issues that impressed him during the vlogging-blogging conference.

Reactions to V/Blogging Conference

In this vlog, Carl Schroeder makes comments about the Vlogging-Blogging Future of Gallaudet conference at Gallaudet University.

Not Big Enough for Mike

On Mike McConnell's recent blog with a video, Mike said his piano sucks. It was not his fault that the piano sucks. It's small but it was given to him for free some ten years ago. Mike is blameless, and the size of his piano is full of blames.

It was really neat to see his video. Mike wears his signature baseball cap, and he signs the article THE as if it;s highly active and significant in the language. He showed us one of his piano collection from which he could model while playing the piano that sucks.

Playing the piano is probably Mike's way of expressiong his gratitude, focusing his intention,
acknowleding his audience, calling upon the forces of nature--in short, Mike's piano is the utterance of his musical spirit. However, rapid playing is not appropriate and he does it on the video where he gets off-keyed. Not his fault! The piano sucks.

No, I said it's not Mike's fault. His piano is not big enough, which does matter a great deal to him. He needs a new and big piano so he could start shifting blames to hmself, not the piano.

I am no expert in playing the piano, so I may be mistaken. Forgive me but it is true that Mike's piano is not big enough. Not my faulty, either!

Some Thoughts about Vlogging and Blogging

It is my pleasure here to blog something before going to the Vlogging-Blogging Future of Gallaudet conference in Washington, DC, and, believe it or not, I found that in this blogging instead of vlogging. I wrote because I usually write what I see.

To me Deaf Culture is no different from any other culture. Without story, we too have no past, no society, no memory, no thought, and no humanity. Stories shape our consciousness—they create us.

From early on in my life, stories began to create and shape my layered inner richness as a human being. It developed an understanding of my own culture and an interest in exploring the diversity of humanities generally. As I got older, stories instilled a respect for the inclusiveness of human thought, and helped me appreciate the startling unity of human concerns across historical, social, political, and geographical boundaries. Ultimately, stories added to the full development of my potential by pursuing an ongoing questioning and curiosity about human motivation, my ability to make aesthetic and moral distinctions, sophistication about emotional development, and a recognition and perhaps re-evaluation of my personal convictions.

Yes, vlogging and blogging those stories are to tap the imagination, for it is the imagination which harmonizes and connects the diverse aspects of human mind, heart and experience. Vlogging and blogging are the most powerful means by which the values of Deaf community are passed on. The bridge of imagination leads us to an understanding of the grand recurring themes and archetypes that transcend cultural boundaries between Deaf and hearing people.

Unfortunately, through some emails and rejected comments, I found there were too many people who allowed themselves to slip into a limited consciousness, losing touch with the expanded reality of imagination and the mind’s eye that the truths of deafness and ASL offer us. Imagination is the gift of childhood to our personality.

I’ve blogged and vlogged. And we are fortunate here to be able to share the wonderful legacy of the vlogging and blogging.