自分が以前に書いたQ&A記事の一部英訳です。（全部は大変だったので少しカットしました）
変な英語になっていたらすみません。
This blog post is about "the palm spelling," called 指談 (Yubi-dan), 指筆談 (Yubi-hitsudan),介助つきコミュニケーション (The communication using the assistance) or FC (The Facilitated Communication).
I have doubts about these methods. So I try to explain the reason why I doubt them in a Q&A style as easily as possible.
I do not want to hurt anyone, and I think anyone doesn't like to be suspected. However, as in the tale of "The Naked King," I think it's very dishonest to keep silent because I don't want to offend the King.
I would like to be a good neighbor. So I try to explain my doubts politely though it's awkward to say.
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Q. What exactly do "the doubts about these methods" mean?
A. These methods mentioned above insist that 'the facilitators (通訳/the translators)' can read the words from the people who have difficulties communicating with disabilities or sickness. But I actually think that the words are from 'the facilitators.' I think they may be making it unknowingly.
Q. Is it possible to unknowingly make someone else's words?
A. Yes, though I feel it strange too.
Since ancient times, there are many phenomena such as 'the necromancy,' 'the revelation', and 'the ouija-board.' And they don't be proved that they are the truth.
So I think it is necessary to confirm the reliability of each one about the palm spelling too.
Q. It is good to convey the intentions of people who cannot talk. Why do you criticize it?
A. It's good if it's true, but I think it's bad if it's not true.
I think it is better to spread it as a good thing after confirming whether it is true.
Also, I think it is very important to criticize then if you have any critical opinions about me, tell me freely too.
Q. It seems like a mean act to criticize these wonderful things.
A. No. I'm just a person who wants a world where everyone can live happily. If you have a hard time due to an accident or illness, my chest hurts. How wonderful it would be if people with difficulties communicating could speak in any way.
However, that is only when "it's true". If the words that don't belong to him were treated as his own, it's very scary to me, and I don't want to leave such a situation.
Q. Do you criticize it because it is not 'scientific'? Can modern science explain everything?
A. I would like to support it if it's true, even if it's not scientific but supernatural power or magic. The important thing is whether it is true or not.
And I still don't know the rationale that seems to be true. On the other hand, there are many reasons to make me suspicious. Therefore, I think that they should prove it if they want to use it.
Q. What makes you feel so suspicious?
A. Look at this list.
● What I actually saw:
・ Even if the facilitator can ordinary chatter smoothly, he cannot answer the name and age of the person who meets for the first time.
・ The facilitators say they can read the words when simply placing their hand somewhere on the other's body, such as shoulders, feet, or elbows, instead of the other's fingers.
・ When the person who can talk and move by themselves (ex. The autistic person, the person with Down Syndrome) talks something, the facilitators say "This is just the unwilling moving."
● What I read on Facebook and blogs:
・ The facilitators claim that even the babies can write like children or adults.
・ Sometimes they say that it is a scientific method, and sometimes a mysterious force.
● The episode introduced in "最重度の障害児たちが語りはじめるとき (When the most severely disabled children begin to talk)" by 中村尚樹 (Hisaki Nakamura).
・ When one mother told the facilitator "Please let him write his young sister's name," and the facilitator wrote the wrong name.
Q. The reasons why you look suspicious can be explained by XXX.
A. Maybe it's XXX, or maybe it's different. It cannot be judged without concrete evidence.
Q. There are so many things that modern science can't prove.
A. Even if you can't explain how it works scientifically, there are many ways to find out whether the facilitators really read the other's words.
Q. You will know that it is true if you actually experience it.
A. No. There are many things that look real at first glance but are not real in the world.
For example, even if a magician guesses the playing card's numbers, he doesn't have supernatural power. Everyone knows that it is actually a trick, even if it looks real.
It is very dangerous to believe that it is genuine because it looked genuine.
Q. It's true because the facilitator read the words that only the other person knows.
A. Unfortunately, that alone is not proof.
If they use some kind of technique, it may look as if they read it. Some magic tricks include 'reading people's hearts magic.' For example, there are "cold reading" and "hot reading."
Q. You can feel their finger actually move when you touch them.
A. Unfortunately, that is not proof. There may be some people who have involuntary movements. Or the facilitator may misunderstand that the movement of his own muscles belongs to the other.
When I was a kid, a spiritual play called "Kokkuri-san (the ouija-board)" became popular. But can it be said that the existence of ghosts has been proved?
Q. Mr.XXX who is doing that activity is a good person, so I don't think he is lying.
A. It may be a misunderstanding, not a lie. All human beings can be self-delusional.
If you believe that the person should never make a mistake because the person is a good man, you make the person carry a too heavy responsibility.
Q. No one takes a loss even if the communications are not true.
A. No, I don't think so.
If later on, these words were wrong or the words were unknowingly made by the facilitator, the family who believed in them would feel regret. No one can take responsibility after they have regret and sadness.
Therefore, the authorship of the communications is very important, and I think it should be confirmed first. I just want everyone to know that it may not be true.
Q. It is wrong to think that he has no heart because he cannot speak normally.
A. Yes, I think that's right.
However, whether 'the palm spelling' is correct or not is a completely different issue.
Critique of the palm spelling is not denying someone's heart.
For example, I can't speak English fluently, but of course, I have a heart.
Q. It is important that everyone wants to communicate with a person with a disability or sickness.
A. I think that's right too.
However, I don't think it is necessary to stick to the risky method because there are many tools and ingenuity to help communicate. If you can choose a more reliable method, I think it is better to use it, as like called AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). For example, some autistic people can use picture cards. Some people conversate using iPhone apps.
Of course, there may be people who say, "I searched for it, but there is no other way to rely on," for various reasons. I'm sorry I couldn't give good advice to such people.
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