GrendelQ

When it comes to fluency, the definition that comes to my mind is being able to express yourself and use the language with flow, ease, and speed.

If you are d/Deaf or HOH, aided, implanted, or not, would you please respond to the attached poll asking: In what language(s) do you consider yourself to be fluent (I'll break it down by mode)?

[definition requested: there are several in another post, but this seems most comprehensive: http://oxforddictionaries.com/defini...gb0305170.007]

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Banjo

I don't see a poll.

DeafCaroline

Language fluency is ability to speak and understand the language in all ways from reading, writing, speaking and comprehending it when others speak it.

I consider myself "fluent" in speaking English but not in hearing it.

SimonJ

I don't see a poll, only English, but written and oral.

rockin'robin

None....I'm not fluent in sign language, but I'm able to converse as long as the signer moves their mouth at the same time, and does not sign too swiftly....Speech...I'm more oral than ASL or sign, but some words I have difficulty with. And I'm late-deafened (age 14), profound deaf for 50 years. I never stopped talking, as this was told to me at the deaf school I attended for 2 years (NCSD). I was not allowed to sign, and had to sit in front of the class and lipread.

So...I'm an "in-betweener"...perhaps a "mutt" (if you will)....I chose to go both directions (or perhaps life chose that for me).

Bottesini

I am wonderfully fluent in written English, my family can understand my spoken English mostly, although I repeat for them. Outsiders have trouble with my speech, and my granddaughter who is fluent in English speech can not understand me.

I am far less than perfectly fluent in ASL although I do study it.

kokonut

Fluency has to do with "flowing forth" as something coming out. Something that's fluid.
"Fluency (also called volubility and loquaciousness) is the property of a person or of a system that delivers information quickly and with expertise."

I speak the English language effortlessly. I can and hear and understand the English langauge completely as long as there are no other outside or background noise that may obscure it (e.g. listening on the phone versus listening in a noisy area).

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shel90

Fluent in written English and ASL. nearly fluent in spoken English except for words with multiple syllables. That's where I really struggle.

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DeafCaroline

Ok, whatever, this thread is already doomed if it starts off with a false definition of language fluency.

GrendelQ

I'll list several definition sources, but I had assumed that each person is able to look up what fluency or knowing a language fluently means if uncertain. Because it is tied to how comfortable you yourself feel using the language and knowing what you want to express, it's something that you have to judge for yourself.

fluent - definition of fluent by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
Fluently - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
definition of fluent from Oxford Dictionaries Online
Fluent | Define Fluent at Dictionary.com
Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
Fluency - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Added: Ugh, the poll seems to only be taking one selection per user, I've sent a message asking if that can be adjusted, but otherwise it will just have to serve as a guide.

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DeafCaroline

I've learned up language fluency and they all say the same thing: ability to read write speak and comprehend fluently. Or in the case of speaking and hearing fluently - "converse fluently".

So, true language fluency includes the ability to understand the spoken language fluently.

Anyway.

GrendelQ

Are you saying you can't be fluent in written English unless you can hear the spoken mode? You are either misinterpreting your source (taking one example provided as the limits of the definition) or your source is full of nonsense.

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DeafCaroline

GrendelQ - i never said anything of the sort. You are asking people if they consider themselves fluent in a LANGUAGE.

I am saying language fluency means: ability to read, write, speak AND understand it when it's spoken. I didn't say one is contingent on the other.

[edit] Language fluency

Further information: Language proficiency
Language fluency is used informally to denote broadly a high level of language proficiency, most typically foreign language or another learned language, and more narrowly to denote fluid language use, as opposed to slow, halting use. In this narrow sense, fluency is necessary but not sufficient for language proficiency: fluent language users (particularly uneducated native speakers) may have narrow vocabularies, limited discourse strategies, and inaccurate word use. They may be illiterate, as well. Native language speakers are often incorrectly referred to as fluent.
Fluency in English is basically ones ability to be understood by both native and non native listeners. A higher level would be bilingual, which indicates one is native in two languages, either having learned them simultaneously or one after the other. In Murcia, Spain, for example the local government distinguishes the two.[citation needed]
In the sense of proficiency, "fluency" encompasses a number of related but separable skills:

• Reading: the ability to easily read and understand texts written in the language;[3]
• Writing: the ability to formulate written texts in the language;
• Comprehension: the ability to follow and understand speech in the language;
• Speaking: the ability to produce speech in the language and be understood by its speakers.

GrendelQ

@deafcaroline,

I'm not sure I understand the point you are making. In your last post you said "So, true language fluency includes the ability to understand the spoken language fluently. " You don't need to understand the spoken mode of English to consider yourself fluent in English -- if you are referring to written English.

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DeafCaroline

ok, if that's the definition you meant in your poll - then I misunderstood you. My bad. I am realizing, because I can be dense sometimes, that it's pretty easy to misunderstand the written word here on AD. I didn't mean to dispute with you, I was disputing on what I thought you meant.

posts from hell

...........................................

posts from hell

<<< electing not to answer this.

Frisky Feline

I did not vote the poll. I see that there is some kind of contest based on how well you can hear or speak rather than writing or reading.

GrendelQ

Frisky, that's not the intent at all. There's another thread in which some people contend that d/Deaf/HOH can never be fluent in spoken language, others contend that it is possible for d/Deaf/HOH to be fluent in spoken language, regardless of whether or not they sound different from 'hearies.' I believe the latter. Several members asked for one person to come forward who is d/Deaf/HOH and considers himself/herself fluent. Several have.

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posts from hell

Including the one that misses certain sounds while speaking, I see.

posts from hell

It's funny. Using this poll to grab some emotional answers and saying "Look at this!!"

Frisky Feline

Still, it is to me like it's a contest to compare with others who can or can't. What is the point of reaching to a goal to what? maybe it helps those hoh or deaf with insecure issues to see which one they are capable of hearing or speaking. kudos to those insecure hoh or deafies people who can hear or speak. yay.

this is alldeaf, not a contest hearing or speaking forum.

deafskeptic

Ditto here. When I speak, my speech is monosyllabic.

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Bottesini

I thought it is going to show fluency is in other areas. Not just hearing and speaking.

Smithtr

I am writing English and native language English, ASL!

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Frisky Feline

Yes I see there are more than hearing and speaking but they keep bringing up about how fluency in measured they have spoken or ability to hear. Since we discuss about what fluency spoken or hearing or reading we have here is no point. It is just me.

GrendelQ

Frisky, do you believe that no d/Deaf person can ever achieve fluency in spoken language(s)?

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Bottesini

I am not arguing. I promise.

I want to make it clear there is no point. But I want to say so.

GrendelQ

I believe it's just deafcaroline who has been saying that and I think she had misunderstood the definition of fluency. Others are saying that isn't true, and logically, how could it be true in the case of a written mode or a sign language?

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GrendelQ

What does that matter? The concept of fluency doesn't hinge on how you pronounce a certain word or how you hold your pen. It's how you use the language, what you say or write or sign.

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