Dear LPG,

I am not trying to be the LPG writer who only has a preoccupation with masks and mask wearers, but I learned something else about them that I think might benefit members of the general public no matter what their age.

Have you noticed just how much more you need to ask someone who is talking to you from behind a face covering to repeat something that they said?  I think that we all think that lip reading is something that deaf people are better at than anyone else, but I know that I often find it really helpful to check the shape of someone’s mouth to differentiate the beginning of similar sounding words. Take ‘tamper’ and ‘pamper’ for instance; if you miss the beginning of those words, the mouth takes on a very different shape when someone prepares to say them….

Anyway, you might remember my attempt at imparting a little advice when it comes to mistaking the identity of a fellow mask wearer that you might come across beyond the confines of your front door, now that we can all get out and about more again (►►►). 

While researching the subject a bit more, I found another little lesson which, if learned might improve our powers when it comes to another aspect of being able to deal with masked faces.  I have found a few videos which could help you to both understand what the eyes of a masked passer-by is trying to impart to you, and in turn, help you to convey any thoughts that you might like to without having to lift yours.

I have found a few videoed lessons on how to read the emotions that can be detected just by the shape that your eyes make and although we nearly all make them quite naturally when we smile or frown, there is quite an art to reading what other people’s eyes are trying to tell you.  I have asked LPG to leave links to a short lesson or two…

DR, Downham

DR offers links to a masked master class or two.

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