No no.. maybe not literally ‘stealing’ our language.. but just a short time ago I was watching a program on animal planet (channel 54) and a advertisement came on…
I guess I was still keenly aware of this in the aftermath of Amy’s recent Vlog but …
guess what the ad was showing?
Babies. Several babies sitting in a circle and surrounded by happy, smiling mothers. The mothers were sitting on there knees, gesturing and encouraging their little darlings to sign.
Yes.. sign! Hearing babies and mothers using baby signs to communicate their needs.
What really gets me is when the spokeswoman (assuming this is the ‘owner’ of the program - for lack of a better way to put it) was talking about the program and its success. She actually used the word ‘enpowering’ when applied to the babies getting their needs met.
*shaking head here*
Maybe I am touchy on this.. but I can see how easy it would be for someone to learn the basis signs and turn it into a profit and help others at the same time. I’d bet my bottom dollar that if such a person was to encounter a Deafie, she’d be completely lost.
When I see the hearing mothers sitting in a circle around their children, their faces happy and smiling, my thoughts ran over this: If they only knew the history of speech therapy victims’ histories… being denied access to other options of communication, be it ASL or other forms of sign.
Where was enpowerment back when we needed it?
Yes, I saw it recently, too. I wonder about it, too.
What’s more, I noticed something else — lack of CC on this advertising?
I obviously can tell it is about babies and sign language but no captioning? Sigh.
gwlj
Why not file a complaint with the FCC for noncompliance?
They need to practice what they preach and may received federal funds.
Grant
that’s interesting.. wondering what channel you were watching? The one I saw showed CC.. obviously or I wouldn’t have known the woman said ‘enpowering’.
Rob
Animals Channel, I believe.
I mean Animals Planet — just like RFW mentioned.
gwlj
I think those little Mamas consider ASL like playing pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo. It is something they can brag about to their friends. “Look, my baby knows sign language”!
Animal Planet is one of my favorite programs and I watch it a great deal. I have never had a problem with the programs NOT being captioned. Many of the stories are filmed in the U.K., so it is pretty difficult to read their lips!
Lantana
Unfortunately, Lantana is right in that having your baby be able to communicate via ASL is the “in” thing right now and there are tons of videos and books on the topics with the express purpose of being able to show off your child and what they have learned. I am not a deafie but had an intern that was and he exposed me to much and now for a variety of reasons, I would like for my children to learn ASL but they are old enough to understand that it is a language and not something to impress others with…our church has a wonderful ministry and to me it is a means in which to bless others. Two dear friends of mine use ASL to communicate with co-workers and others and sadly they are the only people in their companies that can communicate…those of us that can hear take a lot for granted.
I am hearing and am learning sign language with my children for several reasons (they are all hearing too). I have witnessed baby signing and it is true that babies can communicate earlier with signs; but it does not mean they are learning ASL. It is more like what gorillas are able to do with signs. As I am learning sign language and all of its nuances and rules I am falling more and more in love with it. I love being able to express so much emotion and attitude physically. I am also enjoying being able to communicate with my children when my voice isn’t available (brushing teeth, talking on the phone, in a crowd, etc…). As for people making a profit from this, well it is a capitalistic society and if a profit can be made, it will be. I do think we need more public programs teaching sign language. What ever happened to the deaf woman who was on Sesame Street? They need to reincorporate that kind of learning spectrum in our current children’s programing.