An Audio Interview With a Deaf Person?
Am I the only one who noticed that the Chronicle posted an audio interview with Robert R. Davila, interim president of Gallaudet University? What’s the catch? He doesn’t speak! Gallaudet primarily educates those who are deaf or hard of hearing; Davila is a deaf person who signs and his “voice” in this interview is actually that of an interpreter. I’m sure the many deaf and hard of hearing students and alumni at Gallaudet appreciate the Chronicle posting the written transcript but wouldn’t a video of Davila signing have been much better (and much cooler)? The interview even specifically mentions and links to the video blog that Gallaudet produces to communicate with students and alumni.
What a curious mixture of unintentional comedy, insensitivity, and a missed opportunity!
You’re not the only one. When I saw that in my RSS reader, I didn’t get a chance to check the Chronicle’s article. But, I was really surprised to see they had an audio interview. The thought that it might even looked offensive to the deaf community crossed my mind.
You’re right, Kevin. Really weird.
Thanks for posting this Kevin. I actually co-facilitated a discussion on blogs, podcasting, vodcasting, etc. in a higher ed grad class yesterday. A student in the class talked about the potential for online video blogs for the deaf community. The video blog at Gallaudet is terrific!
Karine - I don’t know if deaf persons found the interview offensive. It’s a culture I don’t know much about and with which I have no personal experience. However, the mere thought of an audio interview with someone who doesn’t speak makes me giggle. But the missed opportunity to videotape the interview and make an effort to reach out to the deaf community (is a typed transcript *really* equivalent to seeing or hearing the person?) makes me groan.
Eric - Apparently there are many deaf persons who make video blogs. I would say that there is more than potential - there is real value that some of them are realizing. I can’t seem to find it at the moment (I thought I had written about it earlier but I can’t seem to find it) but I’ve come across some fascinating discussions about deaf persons using webcams and cell phone cameras to communicate with one another. Apparently written English is a pretty difficult foreign language for someone whose primary language is sign language since even the written language is largely based on the verbal pronunciation of words (i.e. phonics).
People who are deaf inspire me that people are different. Also i think its great when people learn to take sign language. I took sign language for 2 years in school, then we got to go met people our age at our local mall and got to take our sign language to the test.