What’s the American Deaf Culture?

American Deaf Culture refers to the values, behaviors, and traditions of Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) as a main way to communicate. Deaf culture values the use of body language, gestures and facial expression. In this culture, deafness is considered as an identity not as a disorder. Deaf communities include hearing people who use ASL as a second language provided that they interact with Deaf people, and also they have the same beliefs that Deaf people share. Parents of Deaf children are an example of hearing people in Deaf communities. Another example is CODA, which means Children of Deaf Adults. 90% of Deaf parents have hearing children. CODAS grow up among Deaf people in Deaf communities. The first language they learn is ASL. Then, when they go to Day cares or kindergartens they start to learn to speak. They continue to use ASL while they are learning American English without having any problems in both languages. CODAS are involved in both hearing and Deaf worlds.

Deaf vs. deaf

“Being deaf and being Deaf are not the same thing,” said Marc Marschark. The small d in ‘deaf’ refers to individuals who don’t cooperate in Deaf communities. Hearing loss in an old age could be the reason behind that act in the hearing communities. Another reason is that they might be hard of hearing _they can hear by using hearing aids_ not completely deaf. On the other hand, capital d in ‘Deaf’ refers to Deaf individuals who are completely deaf or hard of hearing that they are totally engaged in Deaf communities.

How do hearing people act appropriately around deaf people?

1. To get the attention of a Deaf person an individual may tap on the deaf shoulder or wave nicely by hand in front of them.

2. If you don’t know how to sign write on a paper to communicate with Deaf people. Talking even in slow paste does not help because only 30% of Deaf people can read lips and they face big difficulties in it. In addition to that avoid talking loudly or yelling at Deaf people because they still wouldn't hear you.

3. When you introduce yourself in a Deaf community you should include your first and last name.

5. If you are a hearing person and you know ASL it would be nice to tell why and where you learned ASL.

6. Don’t start a conversation with a Deaf person by finger spelling your name. Instead, start the talking speaking about anything such as the weather.

7. Since that the Deaf culture is a visual world you must not break your eye contact with the signer because the eyes are the ears of Deaf people.

8. Facial expression and body movements play an important role in Deaf people’s communication because it explains volumes such as anger and happiness.

9. When walking through signers just cross quickly without saying anything. Also, don’t stand beside signers to wait them to finish their conversation.

Famous Deaf People

Sean Berdy

Sean Berdy is a deaf film actor, comedian and live performer. He is deaf since he was born. One of his T.V shows is Switched at Birth.

Mandy Harvey

Mandy Harvey was talented in singing since she was young. When she graduated from highchool she was accepted to a vocal major. In her first semester she noticed that she can't hear clearly. In the beginning, hearing aids helped her to hear but after few months she lost her hearing entirely. She left school and she learned ASL. Though Mandy continued playing guitar with her father. However, one day she and her father found a song called "Come Home" by OneRepublic. Her father suggested to her that she learn the lyrics. She thought it’s impossible that she would sing well while she can’t hear. Unexpectedly, Mandy succeed! Then, she realized she doesn’t have to quit singing.

Lon Chaney, Sr

Lon Chaney, Sr. was a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). He was an actor in silent films ages. Being a child of deaf parents is what made Lon skilled in pantomime.

Tip:

Never call a deaf person deaf and dumb or deaf mute. Deaf people aren’t less smart than hearing people. They just communicate differently!

Says said By Deaf People

“Signs are to eyes what words are to ears. “

- Ken Glickman (Deaf Proverbs Book Writer)

“I have always thought it would be a blessing if each person could be blind and deaf for a few days during his early adult life. Darkness would make him appreciate sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.”

– Helen Keller ( Blind and Deaf American Author and Educator 1880-1968 )

“Just a thought….it is interesting to see that DEAF people can function in the hearing world very well while hearing people cannot function well in the DEAF world. “

– Gil Eastman ( Gallaudet Theatre Art Professor 1934-2006)

“The problem is not that the (deaf) students do not hear. The problem is that the hearing world does not listen. “

- Rev Jesse L. Jackson ( American Civil Rights Activist, Minister)

“In terms of a disability, I don’t view myself as having a disability…I function like any other hearing person can. My deafness does not deprive me of anything. I can do anything I want. Except maybe sing.”

Summer Cider (Gallaudet University Recruiter)

“At some point we have to stop and say, There’s Marlee, not There’s the deaf actress.” – Marlee Matlin (Deaf Actress)

“As long as we have deaf people on earth, we will have signs. And as long as we have our films, we can preserve signs in their old purity. It is my hope that we will all love and guard our beautiful sign language as the noblest gift God has given to deaf people.”

– George Veditz, 1913. ( Former President of National Association of the Deaf )

Deaf Education

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The deaf education movement started in 1807 in Connecticut when the daughter of Mason Fitch Cogswell became deaf due to illness. Dr. Cogswell was worried about his daughter’s education. So he started the movement talking to the people he knows asking them to financially support him. At that time they made a survey which concluded that the amount of deaf people who don’t have education is 84. In 1813, Dr. Cogswell collected $2133 from donors in his town. Dr. Cogswell had a meeting with nine prominent men to take a step towards establishing the school. Dr. Cogswell appointed Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet a director of the school. Mr. Gallaudet who was interested on teaching deaf people because he was teaching Dr. Cogswell’s daughter. Before the school opens Mr. Gallaudet spent six months in deaf school in France to learn teaching methods. When he return the states he brought few French experts to teach in the school. In 1817, the American School for the Deaf is finally opened. Nowadays there are many options for Deaf people, they can attend public schools and use interrupter or they can attend any Deaf school across the U.S.

Sign Language:

According to Dictionary.com, Sign Language is, “any of several visual-gestural systems of communication, especially employing manual gestures, as used among deaf people.” Sign Language isn’t universal each country have a different Sign Language system. Even though British English and American English are vey similar, they have a different Sign Language system. Moore, M and Levitan, L says in their book ‘For Hearing People Only,’ “BSL is the creation of members of the Deaf community on the British Isles, New Zealand and Australia; ASL is an indigenous product influenced by French Sign Language, as brought to the States by Laurent Clerc.” American Sign Language is closer to the French Sign Language because the first Deaf school’s staff came from Franc.

Canada doesn’t have a Sign Language system they use American Sign Language.

American Sign Language:

American Sign Language (ASL) is a discrete language from English. It is a visual language that requires the use of hands, facial expressions and body movement. ASL is not a broken English, but it’s a language that can be taught as a second or third language. It has its own grammatical and syntax structure. ASL is the primary language of most of Deaf people or hard-of-hearing in the States.

ASL Grammar Structure:

ASL’s Grammar is like English Grammar can’t be taught in few pages or even in few days. Additionally, it requires ASL students to practice to sign fluent. However, generally, ASL sentences follow a "TOPIC" "COMMENT" arrangement.

Example: English: You need to study! ASL: Study you need.

When discussing past and future events we tend to establish a time-frame before the rest of the sentence. That gives us a "TIME" "TOPIC" "COMMENT" structure.

Example: English: It took me two weeks to heal. ASL: Two-weeks me heal.

Classifiers:

Classifiers aren’t signs. They are handshapes that reflect particular characteristics and convey details contributing to the concept of a sign. They are used in ASL to describe movement, placement, and visual characteristics of a person or object.