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From: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Mouth Movements while signing
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Date: 7 Nov 90 21:22:01 GMT
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Index Number: 11629

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Well, Ann, mouthing or not mouthing is a matter of signing style and/or 
background. Some deaf people simply do not even have the experience 
with speech to know what mouth movement to use with what words. Now 
if a person could hear at one time, they are more likely to mouth as 
they sign. Or had a lot of speech training. A totally deafie could 
and probably would be just the opposite by virtue of a lack of the 
very backgrounds I just mentioned. Also, to be honest, using ASL with 
speechor mouthing, puts a cognitive load on the "speaker" that can 
make communicating feel rather awkward. For this reason, though I could 
hear until age 13, I will not mouth if I am using ASL for an extensive 
amount of time. You find your mind getting tangled up in how to express 
certain concepts.
 
Now about my labels of deafies and hearies, it is this way. I am part 
of the deaf culture. It is how we who see ourselves as deaf in the 
heart as well as clinically deaf talk. We call ourselves deafies or 
Deaf, we call the non-deaf people hearies or Hearing. I am not labeling 
in the sense you mean it. It is what we call ourselves just like certain 
Eskimo call themselves "The People" while referring to another tribe 
as something that translates into "The Raw Fish Eaters." A poor example 
probably, but think of what the Japanese call themselves (Nipponese, 
which means civilized , I think) and they refer to the rest of us a 
Ghyesin or something which means barbarians. Aw shoot, another poor 
example.
 
Basically, what I am saying is thatevery culture has a name for themselves 
and another name for non-culture members. It is not meant to hurt in 
most cases, it is just a name that refers to the distinction between 
themselves and others. I and deaf people have used these terms for 
years. To date , theonly objection I have run into is yours. No offense 
meant, but it is highly unlikely this cultural tendency will change. 
We view it as an innocent and non-insulting term. I am a deafie, a 
non-deafie is a hearie. I am a guy you are a gal. Hopefully, that doesn't 
stand in the way of our ability to be friends regardless of the obvious 
differences between us.
 
And you can ask me any question you want to and or tell me whatever 
opinions you have. Learning as I have learned is a two way street (although 
there are occasionally forks in the roads).

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