How sign language can bring music to life

Summary

This video script narrates the journey of a sign language interpreter specializing in music, emphasizing the sensory and emotional experiences of deaf individuals with music. It explores the importance of music in the speaker's life, the challenges faced by the deaf community in accessing communication and cultural experiences, and the need for societal understanding and inclusion. The speaker passionately advocates for the deaf community's right to full access in all aspects of life, including entertainment and emergency broadcasts, and the significance of early sign language acquisition for both deaf and hearing babies.

Takeaways

• 🎵 The speaker is a sign language interpreter who specializes in music interpreting, a job that often surprises people who assume deaf individuals cannot experience music.
• 🧠 Studies have shown that deaf people can feel and interact with music, which engages the auditory cortex and stimulates a chemical reaction in the brain, similar to hearing people.
• 💕 Music holds a deep personal significance for the speaker, evoking memories of family and friends and providing a sense of connection and belonging.
• 🌐 The speaker experienced a shift in perspective after becoming deaf at the age of 20, gaining a new understanding of the Deaf community and culture.
• 🚫 The speaker challenges the assumption that deaf people do not enjoy or have a connection to music, emphasizing that music is a universal human experience.
• 🤝 The speaker's work involves collaborating with the deaf community to make music visual through sign language, aiming to provide a more authentic musical experience for deaf audiences.
• 🤔 The speaker highlights the ongoing struggle for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to secure proper access to communication in various aspects of life, including entertainment and emergency situations.
• 🙅‍♂️ The speaker criticizes the lack of understanding and empathy from hearing individuals who make decisions about access for the deaf community without proper knowledge or connection.
• 👶 The speaker points out the early challenges faced by deaf children, including the pressure to conform to hearing society's norms and the lack of early sign language exposure.
• 🌟 The speaker envisions a future where the deaf community is not silenced and has equal access to opportunities, including employment and social inclusion.
• 🗣️ The speaker encourages openness to understanding and accommodating the diverse communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing, advocating for a more inclusive society.

Q & A

What is the speaker's profession?

The speaker is a sign language interpreter who specializes in music interpreting.

Why do people often question the speaker's profession?

People question the speaker's profession because they wonder why deaf people would have an interest in music if they can't hear it.

What have studies found about deaf people's experience with music?

Studies have found that when deaf people feel music, it interacts with the auditory cortex and can lead to a chemical reaction that raises dopamine and lowers cortisol in both hearing and deaf individuals.

How does music play a significant role in the speaker's life?

Music is significant to the speaker as it connects them to important people in their life and important experiences, acting as a form of emotional and cultural connection.

What was the speaker's experience with homelessness?

The speaker became homeless after being kicked out, having to quit school, and turning to drugs and gang associations due to feeling rejected at home.

How did the speaker's perspective on music change after becoming hearing at the age of 20?

The speaker's perspective changed as they gained a new label and were welcomed into the Deaf world, leading them to see music as an essential part of the Deaf community's culture and language.

What motivated the speaker to study ASL and work with the deaf community?

The speaker was motivated by their own experiences with hearing loss and a desire to fight for access and understanding, as well as their connection to deaf individuals throughout their life.

Why is the speaker passionate about making music visual for the deaf community?

The speaker is passionate about making music visual because they believe that music is an experience that should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to hear.

What challenges do deaf and hard of hearing people face in accessing communication?

Deaf and hard of hearing people face challenges such as fighting for their basic right to communication in various aspects of life, including medical appointments, counseling sessions, and educational settings.

What was the issue with the emergency broadcast from the Florida news station before Hurricane Irma?

The issue was that an unqualified signer was chosen to communicate life-saving information, resulting in the signing of incomprehensible information and silencing the deaf community's voice.

What is the speaker's vision for a more inclusive world?

The speaker envisions a limitless world where the deaf community is not unemployed due to their hearing loss, where everyone feels welcome, and where people recognize that everyone is born with different abilities, not disabilities.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 The Power of Music in Deaf Interpretation

The speaker introduces themselves as a sign language interpreter specializing in music, a field that often surprises people who assume deaf individuals cannot experience music. Studies show that deaf people can indeed feel and engage with music, which stimulates the auditory cortex and triggers a chemical reaction that raises dopamine and lowers cortisol. Music holds personal significance for the speaker, evoking memories of family and pivotal life experiences. The speaker's journey includes a period of homelessness and rebellion, but music remained a constant refuge. Becoming hearing at 20 introduced them to the Deaf world, where they embraced a new cultural identity and the challenges of access and representation.

05:03

👥 The Struggle for Access in the Deaf Community

The speaker discusses the misconception that deaf people do not appreciate music, arguing that music is universal and does not discriminate. They recount their realization that hearing people cannot define access for those with hearing loss, and the importance of deaf and hard of hearing individuals advocating for their own communication rights. The speaker shares their efforts to make music visual through American Sign Language, inspired by a deaf dance troupe that brought music to life. They emphasize the need for qualified interpreters in critical situations, such as emergency broadcasts, where miscommunication can have severe consequences.

10:05

🚫 Overcoming Barriers and Fighting for Inclusion

The speaker addresses the systemic barriers faced by the deaf community, including discrimination and the struggle for basic communication rights in various settings, from medical appointments to entertainment events. They highlight the importance of early sign language acquisition for both hearing and deaf babies, countering the common advice for deaf parents to opt for cochlear implants and spoken language. The speaker calls for a more inclusive society that recognizes and values the diversity of communication methods, urging for a world where the deaf community is not marginalized but rather embraced and included.

Keywords

💡Sign Language Interpreter

A sign language interpreter is a professional who facilitates communication between deaf and hearing individuals by translating spoken language into sign language and vice versa. In the context of the video, the speaker is a specialized sign language interpreter for music, which is a unique role that involves conveying the rhythm, melody, and emotion of music through sign language. The video emphasizes the importance of this role in making music accessible to the deaf community.

💡Auditory Cortex

The auditory cortex is a region of the brain responsible for processing auditory information. The script mentions studies showing that when deaf people feel music, it still interacts with the auditory cortex, suggesting that the experience of music is not solely dependent on hearing. This concept is crucial to understanding how music can be a shared experience for both hearing and deaf individuals.

💡Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with reward, motivation, and pleasure. The script explains that engaging with music, whether hearing or deaf, can lead to an increase in dopamine levels, which contributes to the positive emotional response to music. This highlights the neurochemical aspect of the universal experience of music.

💡Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone that is released in response to stress. The video script mentions that music can lower cortisol levels, indicating that it has a calming and stress-relieving effect on the brain. This is an important point in the discussion of music's impact on mental well-being, regardless of one's hearing ability.

💡Cultural and Linguistic Minority

The term 'cultural and linguistic minority' refers to groups that have their own distinct culture and language, which may differ from the dominant culture and language of a society. In the video, the speaker identifies as part of the Deaf community, which has its own rich culture and language (American Sign Language). This concept is central to the video's theme of advocating for the recognition and rights of the Deaf community.

💡Hearing Loss

Hearing loss refers to a decrease in one's ability to hear sounds, ranging from mild to profound. The speaker in the video experienced hearing loss due to spinal meningitis, which shifted their perspective and led them to become an advocate for the Deaf community. Hearing loss is a key factor in understanding the speaker's personal journey and their work as a sign language interpreter.

💡Music Interpretation

Music interpretation in the context of sign language involves translating the auditory and emotional aspects of music into visual signs that can be understood by deaf individuals. The speaker is passionate about this form of interpretation, aiming to bring the full experience of music to the Deaf community, as illustrated by their work with the song 'The Future is Female'.

💡Deaf Community

The deaf community refers to the social group of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, often sharing a common language (sign language) and culture. The video script discusses the speaker's immersion into this community and their experiences with its language, culture, and the challenges faced by its members in accessing communication and services.

💡Access

Access, in the context of the video, refers to the rights and accommodations necessary for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to fully participate in society, including communication access in various settings such as medical appointments, education, and entertainment. The video emphasizes the ongoing struggle for access and the need for societal change to ensure inclusivity.

💡Interpreter

An interpreter is someone who translates spoken or signed language, often in real-time, to facilitate communication between different language users. The video script criticizes instances where unqualified interpreters are used, as in the case of the emergency broadcast during Hurricane Irma, highlighting the importance of qualified interpreters for effective communication.

💡Communication Barriers

Communication barriers refer to the obstacles that individuals with hearing loss face in accessing and participating in conversations and information exchange. The video script discusses various barriers, such as the lack of qualified interpreters, the struggle to access entertainment events, and societal expectations for conformity, which can limit the communication options of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Highlights

The speaker is a sign language interpreter specializing in music interpreting, which often surprises people who assume deaf people can't experience music.

Studies show that deaf people can feel music and it engages the auditory cortex, leading to a chemical reaction that raises dopamine and lowers cortisol.

Music is deeply personal and connected to important life experiences and people for the speaker, such as memories of family and friends.

The speaker's life was significantly influenced by music and the cultural diversity they were exposed to, despite facing discrimination and hardships.

Becoming hearing at the age of 20 gave the speaker a new perspective and label within the Deaf community, leading to a deeper understanding of their purpose.

The speaker's passion for music led them to advocate for better access to music for the deaf and hard of hearing, challenging the misconception that they don't enjoy music.

The importance of accurate and qualified sign language interpreters, especially in critical situations like emergency broadcasts, is emphasized.

The speaker's journey in learning American Sign Language and incorporating it into music interpretation to make it visually accessible.

The struggle for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to fight for their basic right to communication in various aspects of life.

The speaker's experience with the challenges of accessing entertainment events as a member of the deaf community.

The early exposure to sign language is beneficial for both deaf and hearing babies, contrary to common misconceptions.

The speaker's vision for a world where the deaf community is not limited by unemployment due to hearing loss and where everyone feels welcome.

The need for society to be more open to different forms of communication and to respect the diversity within the deaf and hard of hearing community.

The speaker's personal story of overcoming adversity and using music as a refuge, highlighting the universal power of music.

The importance of recognizing and respecting the individuality and preferences within the deaf community, including different signing accents and communication methods.

A call to action for society to create a limitless world where communication barriers are broken down and everyone's voice is heard.

Transcripts

[Music]

when people ask me what I do I tell them

I'm a sign language interpreter that

specializes in music interpreting this

is usually met with blank stares and the

question but why deaf people can't hear

music or can they there have been

multiple studies involving deaf people's

experience with music and those studies

have found that when deaf people feel

the music it interacts with the auditory

cortex and all people other studies have

found that with all people hearing or

deaf that there's a chemical reaction

that occurs see what happens is once the

auditory cortex is engaged it then

engages with other parts of the brain to

raise dopamine and lower cortisol how

freaking cool is that your brain on

music kids music is also really

important to me because it connects me

to the most important people in my life

as well as important experiences Johnny

Cash comes on and I think about my

grandpa the Jed's are played and I think

about my aunt and my grandma driving me

to the coast on our summer vacations

Depeche Mode comes on and it's my

brother forcing me to listen to new wave

then that moment at age 11 when I saw

her her voice still resonates with me

today she embodied power and

independence that would forever inspire

me this cassette tape yes that dates me

was titled all held the queen latifah

that is

I came from a broken home with a

revolving door of stepfathers so I

escaped as much as I could to my friends

homes my friends became my family and

during that time it was the most

formative part of my life I learned

about African American and Latino

cultures and I learned to love and

respect them and in the same time they

loved and respected me but in my own

home those same friends were rejected

simply because they had a different

color skin so that meant I was rejected

too I started using drugs I rebelled I

started hanging out with gang members

eventually I got kicked out I had to

quit school and I ended up being

homeless but music has always been my

refuge and I can't imagine a life

without music and I'm passionate about

bringing that experience to everyone at

the age of 20 I became hearing it wasn't

that I was previously deaf this was the

first time that I had total immersion

into the Deaf world and I gained my new

label so those of you who are hearing

would be labeled a hearing person and

those of you that have hearing loss

would be called either deaf or hard of

hearing depending on the cultural and

linguistic ramifications I was welcomed

into this amazing world introduced to

incredible people language and culture

since I was a child there were deaf

people coming in and out of my life

in hindsight I now see that my purpose

was revealing itself I lived and

breathed as a visitor in this cultural

and linguistic minority until about of

spinal meningitis sent me on my path to

hearing loss then that shifted my

perspective as well as my fight for

access and my own label changes even

though I didn't always want to accept it

I remember seeing music for the first

time

two interpreters were interpreting a

concert it looked a lot like a City

Council meeting

you know how fun those are it looked a

lot about like this

[Music]

and I thought what was bad this is the

sign for music but that wasn't music I

didn't see music off of their hands by

this time I was married and I felt my

deaf spouse and my deaf friends weren't

experiencing everything that I was and

they were being cheated from this see

artists take each melody and each

harmony and then they merge it with the

lyrics because music is so much more

than lyrics but then I saw it a deaf

dance troupe called the wild zappers

they brought life into music every hair

on the back of my hair stood up when

they performed with the San Antonio deaf

dance company and I said this this is

what music should look like so it's

interesting when hearing people tell me

all the time that deaf people don't like

music and that they have nothing to do

with music I adamantly disagree and I

tell them music is for all humanity and

it doesn't discriminate I soon realized

that it was hearing people making these

blanket statements about deaf people and

I thought how can a hearing person

decide what truly constitutes access for

a person with hearing loss and the

answer is you can't so deaf and hard of

hearing people have to fight for their

basic right to communication in every

aspect of their life how many of you in

this room can raise your hand and say

that you have fought for your basic

right to communication in doing my part

I have studied ASL extensively American

Sign Language as well as I've elicited

help from deaf community members to take

this 200 year old language and take

parts of it to make music visual so now

I'm going to show you when I choose to

show all of the different instruments

when madam Gandhi create

her song the future is female

[Music]

so which would you want the City Council

meeting or this one just because you

want it doesn't necessarily mean you're

going to get it see deaf people fight

for access in very personal places in

their lives doctors offices counseling

sessions parent-teacher meetings they

also ask for very specific interpreters

by name because they live and breathe in

their own community and they know and

trust specific interpreters but sadly

that decision typically falls on a

hearing person who has absolutely no

connection to the deaf world we saw this

happen in the emergency broadcast from

the Florida news station right before

hurricane Emma hit see they picked an

unqualified signer I won't even say

interpreter and they signed instead of

life-saving information they signed

things like pizza bear monster and other

incomprehensible information so the deaf

person's voice was silenced in this

decision even when it comes to

life-and-death situations I fight really

hard in the entertainment world because

that's where we get to break away from

the doldrums and all of the struggles

and trials and tribulations of our life

to enter a world of entertainment so if

you were to buy a ticket to go to a

concert right you would just go but if

you had to call the venue and several

weeks you keep calling and calling and

you're trying to get a hold of someone

just to ask for access and finally you

get a hold of someone for access and

then they tell you I'm sorry you have

the wrong person

let me give you another person and then

you wait weeks and weeks to hear from

that person finally you get a hold of

that person that person says I'm sorry

we don't do this or don't you have a kid

that can sign it for you or I'm sorry

you should have contacted us weeks ago

would you still be motivated to purchase

the ticket as a member of the cultural

and linguistic minority I have seen the

trials and tribulations of

discrimination as a mother as a wife as

a sister as a friend and as an

interpreter see this discrimination

starts early on and in unintentional

ways did you know that 90% of deaf

people are born to hearing parents and

this is what's really shocking 15 that's

one five percent of hearing parents and

typically it's the mom communicate and

sign language to them but instead we

tell these deaf children and deaf people

to conform to our hearing society

because it's the hearing world that's

deemed to be normal yet there's tons of

sign language curriculum teaching you're

hearing babies sign language but

research has shown that deaf babies and

hearing babies both will benefit from

early sign language acquisition but when

it comes to deaf babies parents are told

to opt for cochlear implants and to

speak only even though research shows

that early sign language input can

compensate for the lack of auditory

input so the hard-of-hearing like myself

and deaf people have different signing

accents much like spoken ones some of us

talk with our voice some of us do not

some of us use sign language some of us

do not none of them are better than the

other just has no spoken language is

better than another

yet those with hearing losses face way

many more barriers to communication my

access to communication may look very

different than your access to

communication so please be willing to

ask us hear us I want to see a limitless

world where 70% of our deaf community is

no longer unemployed because of their

hearing loss I want to see where we

create spaces for everyone to feel

welcome I would love to see us realize

that everyone is born with it with all

different kinds of disabilities and not

disabilities so now that you know this

would you what to be silenced

[Applause]

[Music]