The Huddle

1. The Huddle In 1894, The Gallaudet University football team invented the football huddle to keep the opponents from eavesdropping on the quarterback in ASL.

2. 1960 William Stokoe • Published the first linguistic book of ASL as a language

3. 1970 Linda Bove • First deaf guest on Sesame Street • 1976- she became an actress

4. British Sign Language • 1983, Princess Diana studied British Sign Language after being invited to British Deaf Association

5. The Smurfs • 1983- “The Smurfs” became the first cartoon to use sign language on American television. The “Smurfing in Sign Language” show had the highest ratings that “The Smurfs had ever had.

6. Marlee Matlin • 1986/1987 – Marlee Matlin became the first deaf signer to win the “Best Actress” Oscar award for playing “Sarah” in the film “Children of a Lesser God”.

7. How Many Use Sign Language • It is estimated that the number of Deaf people in the United States and Canada who use American Sign Language as their primary language is between 100,000 to 500,000.

8. Fingerspelling • In an informal conversation among deaf people, fingerspelling constitutes less than 15% of the conversation.

9. ASL Recognized in Manitoba • 1988- December 6 in Winnipeg Canada, a private member’s resolution was passed unanimously which officially recognized the cultural uniqueness of the deaf community and ASL as a distinctive language of deaf people in Manitoba.

10. ASL Program in Public Schools • 2000- The public school board approved the second-language program in Alberta, Canada. The second language program was the first of its kind in Canada.

11. Strategies for Learning ASL • Develop active listening behaviors: nodding, responding (huh, wow, really) I may not stop to repeat information because you do not nod to indicate you are following along. This is a cultural behavior! Listeners have active roles in signed conversations.

12. Strategies for learning ASL Follow all conversations whether it be between the teacher and the class, teacher and student, or student to student. Focus on the signers’ face, not hands. Don’t break eye contact while in a signed conversation

13. Strategies for learning ASL • Participate as much as possible by agreeing or disagreeing, etc. The more you participate the more you will retain. Don’t worry about mistakes that is part of the learning process.

14. Strategies for learning ASL • Try not to worry about a sign you missed. Work on getting the gist of the conversation. If a particular sign pops up over and over, and you haven’t a clue to it’s meaning, then ask the teacher (using sign language!). Try to avoid asking your classmate for a quick English translation. You would lose out on valuable communication experiences that can strengthen your comprehension skills.

15. Strategies for learning ASL • Leave English and your voice outside the door! Try not to translate in your head as you watch someone sign. Don’t worry about memorizing, as repetition and context will help you acquire the language.

16. Strategies for learning ASL • Try to maintain a signing environment during class breaks, before class begins, and whenever deaf people are present. • Lunch is a great time to develop a signing environment: try having a silent lunch with your friends or join the deaf group. • ASL Club meets here during lunch on Wednesdays. We learn to sign songs and socialize.

17. Spatial Agreement • To give directions using ASL you need to use the signing space in front of you and non-manual behaviors that correlate. • Give general information by pointing in the direction of the place • Give specific directions • Help the listener visualize the route • Use skills with your eyes, face and hands to show relative distance

18. Eye gaze/location agreement • Eye gaze should agree with the route you trace. You should visualize the places along the route, and shift your eye gaze to “look at” the places you describe. Also, tilt your head as you indicate a location (left or right).

19. Conveying Distance • Non-manual behaviors can indicate distance such as far away, moderate distance, or very near.

20. FAR AWAY • Tilt head • Squint eyes • Open mouth slightly • Trace route, extend arm fully

21. Moderate Distance • Tilt head (in agreement with direction) • Purse lips slightly • Trace route: arm moderately extended

22. VERY NEAR • Tilt head in agreement with direction • “cs” (cheek to shoulder): clench teeth • Trace route: keep hand close to body (do not extend arm)

23. Fingerspelling • Remember fingerspelling is not a substitute for a sign. Do NOT spell a word as your first alternative for expressing an idea for which you do not know the sign. Instead, point, describe, act out, gesture, draw, anything but fingerspell.

24. ASL Review • Who is the first Deaf president of Gallaudet University? • Who went to France to learn sign language and why? • Who is the first Deaf, deaf education teacher? • Who is the first black deaf education teacher?

25. ASL Review • What is a cochlear implant? • Who is a candidate for a cochlear implant? • Why is it so controversial? • What is a TDD? How does it work? • What is a sidekick or blackberry? • What is Sorenson?

26. ASL Review • What does NAD mean? • What is Camp Sign? • Tell me about Gallaudet University. Where is it located? • What is TSD? Explain.