the Problem of Listening and Speaking

The philosopher Epictetus advises: "First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak."

A few weeks ago there was a little schoolgirl with cochlear implants speaking some French. I would not want to disagree with her as to the meaning of her speaking ability, but we do not always extend the same courtesy to amateurs. All I can say from my French courses at Gallaudet College (now University): "Ceci n'est pas francias."

I know from my personal experience. After four semesters of French with straight A's, I went to Paris for vacation. Oh my goodness, I could barely understand anything there. It was an ego-bruising experience for me. The French language is much more alive than it appears in textbooks and on paper.

A good parrot can listen to a phrase said in English again and again before it speaks. Does the parrot make any meaning? What does it mean when a parrot says "Polly wants cracker," for example? One may be amused, but he or she remains clueless about it.

French people, Deaf and hearing alike, are totally clueless when they saw this vlog with a CI schoolgirl uttering something "francias." What is the purpose behind her action? What does it mean when she listens to and speaks in French? For which audience does she do it? Well, she might deserve a round of plauses, but there's definitely no handwave from around the world.

That's the problem of listening and speaking for the Deaf.