Speech 02: Informative Speech

Markie Meredith
Submitted to Professor Billington
COMM 1020-SP 15
Speech 2: Informative
Feb 18, 2015
Informative Speech: Audience Assessment
Specific Goal: My audience will learn how to start a conversation with a Deaf person in ASL and
realize that they can communicate with other cultures.
My Narrowed Topic:
a. Strategy: Ill teach my topic by demonstration.
b. Narrow Focus: How to introduce yourself in American Sign Language (ASL)
Original topic: American Sign Language
Narrower topic: How to communicate using American Sign Language
Even narrower topic: How to introduce yourself in American Sign Language
Ethos:
-Primary Ethos: I have taken two years of learning American Sign Language (ASL)
and Deaf culture.
-Secondary Ethos: I will cite three expert references.
Audience Knowledge Level: Most audience members have little knowledge of the topic.
Most know how to do alphabet in ASL.
Adaptation to Audience Knowledge: I will help my audience understand my topic by
demonstrating, giving examples and learning tips from Deaf people.
Pattern of Organization: Ill use a topical pattern of organization.
Informative Speech:

Key-Word Outline

Embrace a New Language and a New Culture

Introduction:
Hook: 1960 Merriam-Websters Dictionary defined American Sign Language as a sign
language for the deaf in which meaning is conveyed by a system of articulated hand
gestures and their placement relative to the upper body. ASL has been used since
early 1800s but wasnt recognized till 1962 as a language. (Vicars, n.d.)
Thesis: I will teach you how to start a conversation with someone who is Deaf and show
you that you can communicate to someone who is different from you.
Preview:
1. Rules of respectful Behavior
2. How to introduce yourself
3. How to continue a conversation after introducing yourself

Transition: The Deaf community have their own culture and set of behaviors that differ from
our own hearing culture.

Body:
a.

Knowing what is appropriate when communicating with someone who is Deaf is very
helpful to know and remember.
A.
Eyes
i. Hearing
1. It is offensive to stare.
ii. Deaf Jay, Start ASL
1. rude to break eye contact
a. Staring is necessary. If you break eye contact while a person is
signing to you, you are incredibly rude! Thats like plugging your
ears when someone is speaking to you! (Jay, 2008)
i. Examples1. Hearing turn away-dont
B.

Face Expressions
i. Hearing
1. Odd
ii. Deaf
1. Normal and informative
a. Example- eye brows

Although Deaf culture is different from our own culture, it does not mean that we
cannot have a conversation with the other person.
b.

I will show you some basic introduction signs to start a conversation.

A.

Greeting
i. Hi

B.

Introduce yourself

i. Sign-My Name
1. Not me
2. Story-bad intro. on mission
ii. Fingerspell name
1. FHPO Deaf perspective- clarity, dont bounce
a. Keep your fingers from kinking, avoid bouncing your arm and
flopping your wrist, maintain a smooth flow. (Moore & Levitan,
2003)
iii. Repeat
C.
Hearing
i. Sign hearing
1. Like-knowledge they are Deaf
After introducing yourself, you can continue the conversation.

c.

There are tips to help continue the conversation after introducing yourself.
A.

B.

Explain your hearing

i. Sign hearing
1. Informs them
a. Like- your knowledge they are Deaf
Ways to communicate
i. Pretend your deaf
1. Writing
2. Acting/gestures
a. Example- wanting food

C.

Dont give up
i. Emma deaf woman
1. Know that we really appreciate when you take the time to communicate
with us! (Emma, 2015)
Conclusion:

I hope that, now that you have a basic understanding of the Deaf cultural behaviors, how to
introduce yourself and continue a conversation with someone who is Deaf. That the next time
you have the opportunity to communicate with someone who is Deaf that you will. They be
patient with you even if you mess up. They understand that you are going out of your comfort
zone to talk with them and they will be patient and enjoy meeting you.
Works Cited:

Emma.(2015,Febuary15).DeafinitelyDifferent.Retrievedfrom15StepstocommunicatingwithDeaf/deaf
people:http://thesedeafeyes.tumblr.com/post/7057546838/15tipstocommunicatingwithdeafdeaf
people
Jay,M.(2008).StartASL.RetrievedFebuary18,2015,fromDeafCulture:http://www.startamericansign
language.com/deafculture.html
Moore,M.S.,&Levitan,L.(2003).ForHearingPeopleOnly.(3.Edition,Ed.)Rochester,NewYork:Deaf
LifePressadivisionofMSMproductions,Ltd.RetrievedFebuary18,2015
Vicars,D.W.(n.d.).LifePrint.RetrievedFebuary20,2015,fromASL:Lesson1::
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lesson01.htm