Newsgroups: bit.listserv.deaf-l
Date:         Fri, 4 Sep 1992 08:58:23 EDT
From:         "Esther A. Paris" <esther@DEMAND.ED.RAY.COM>
Subject:      question re speechreading tonal languages

ASL has most (all?) of its syntax on the face.  Hearing beginners
learning ASL tend to watch a signer's hands and receive ASL
sign-for-sign-for-sign and miss important syntactical information.  Do
other signed languages have syntax on the face?

Does anyone know if any spoken languages have syntax on the face or in
subtle body movements?  Does any spoken language have formalized
systems for movement-related syntax?  If anyone has studied natural
users of a spoken language and discovered that there is syntax in
movement, has anyone studied to see if the movements are peculiar to
the language or the culture of the people studied?

Just curious... the comments about speechreading tonal languages made
me think of this.  Everyone knows that Star Trek's Mr. Spock is
intrigued or incredulous when he raises that one eyebrow.  How does he
do that?  And can he do it with the other eyebrow, too?  There's
something about that look which tells you something about his thoughts;
is recognizing it instinctive or cultural?

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On another note... I work with someone who is hard of hearing.  It
seems to me that I have to shout to be heard.  (I hate this when the
conversation turns to something not work-related because my boss sits
right in the next office and sound really carries in this building.
Sometimes my boss comments to me later about these non work-related
discussions and I get really upset and embarrassed.)  This person
really has a difficult time understanding me and I have a difficult
time carrying on a conversation because I have to shout.  (I have a
really tiny voice.)  I end up avoiding conversations altogether because
I run out of breath trying to talk loudly enough and have an asthma
attack.

I see that, like Ron Mitchell, this co-worker sometimes doesn't know
information about others in the group that is common knowledge among
the hearing people (Aurelia's son is back from Italy, Terry has
information to add to our conversation from over the wall in the other
next office...)  I already turn and face this co-worker directly during
any conversation.  I speak normally, that is I don't exaggerate any
words as far as I can tell.  I just try to speak more loudly until I am
heard.  It's hard to enunciate normally when you're shouting.  (Also, I
become monotone when I speak loudly. Ugh.)

How can I be more helpful to this person?  Are there any tricks for making
oneself more easily heard?

How can I be more helpful in department meetings?  Should I be informing
this co-worker as the day goes on of things I've heard over the wall?  I
have access to all kinds of (useful and useless) information that this
co-worker is missing.

Our department manager shaved off his big moustache.  That was a help.

Well, any other information you can give me will be much appreciated!

Best regards for a nice long holiday weekend for all the USA folks!
Best regards to everyone else for a nice weekend.

Esther Paris, Raytheon EDL, Marlborough, MA USA.
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