Sensitivity Reader: Deaf Culture & Sign Language Consultant ASL NZSL

Demystifying Sensitivity Reading

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"Sensitivity reading is an essential part of the writing process, particularly for authors who are writing about communities or experiences that are outside of their own."

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Conversation Culture Part 2

NZSL CONVERSATION CULTURE CONTINUED: How to gain someone's attention: - Wave your hand in their visual field - If they're further away, make a bigger wave - If you can't reach them, you can ask a third person to help gain their attention for you - Tap their shoulder - two light taps is fine If urgent, harder taps are okay, just be careful not to frighten them or cause injury! When conversing with someone, you need to watch their signing space. This means not only focusing on the hands, it involves the space from the head down to the chest area. This enables you to see the facial expressions, signs and body language more clearly. This is also why generally you would be conversing at a bit of a distance (approx 1 metre apart) to see each other more clearly. In NZSL, visual cues include nodding, eyebrow raises, smiling, signs like "ahh I see", and continued eye contact. Physical contact is also quite common, such as hugging when greeting and farewelling! #NZSL #DeafCommunity #DeafCulture #NZSLFacts #DeafAotearoa #ConversationCulture

Conversation Culture Part 1

New Zealand Sign Language is a visual language, so the conversation culture is different from spoken English. For example, in NZSL, introducing yourself involves certain details, eye contact is important, knowing where the signing space is etc. In spoken English, there is less eye contact and more auditory cues like "hmm" to keep conversation going. When you introduce yourself, you would usually share: - Your name fingerspelled - Your sign name - Whether you're Deaf or hearing - If you're hearing, you will usually be asked who is teaching you NZSL - If you're Deaf, you will talk about who you know in the Deaf community - Where you're from e.g. Auckland, Christchurch - Which school you went to (depending on generation) Eye contact is incredibly important. When signing with someone, you need to be facing each other. If you break eye contact, without explanation, while the other person is signing to you, it is considered rude. When starting a conversation with someone, you need to gain their attention by waving or tapping their shoulder, make eye contact first then start signing! #NZSL #DeafCommunity #DeafCulture #NZSLFacts #DeafAotearoa #ConversationCulture

"It is wonderful to see you leading with a more informed understanding that kids can be bilingual and bimodal (or plurilingual, like most people in the world!). Since the majority of Deaf children now have CI, the relationships you are building with the NZSL community are extremely important to supporting that language and identity to flourish - both at community and individual levels."
~Dr Rachel McKee, Director,
Deaf Studies, Victoria University

Years of Dinner Table Syndrome eventually becomes too painful to endure physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sign language is everything to us.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1016230799639114?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz

When deaf people have Dinner Table Syndrome, it’s not to harm our families or make them uncomfortable about our Deaf experiences. We want to raise awareness for everyone with Deaf family or friends. We want to have that sense of value and be more inclusive in conversations even when DTS exists.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/18/christchurch-school-for-the-deaf-students-reunited-after-60-years/?fbclid=IwAR2c9jA6CSkE-6OcIXYv9jrKime4d3edbVaHglEhUezj9SGrEUZq3CDA564

Christchurch School for the Deaf students reunited after 60 years Their time spent reminiscing about growing up together at the residential Sumner school has brought back both treasured, and painful memories.