Carolyn Mason developed a strong interest in Deaf Culture, which sparked her curiosity about their communication methods and the obstacles they face in a society that prioritizes hearing individuals. As she became more involved in this community, Carolyn realized that many people feel uncertain when meeting someone who is Deaf for the first time. While interacting with others comes naturally to most of us, we may find it challenging to navigate proper etiquette during these encounters – unsure where to direct our gaze or how loudly or quickly to speak.
When the Deaf person looks confused, we are unsure how to fix the issue. Accept that your initial communications will be uncomfortable and awkward. I discovered at the deaf event that as you interact more, you will become more comfortable and learn how to make yourself understood. A friend of mine took American Sign Language as a college course. Based on her explanation and demonstration, it appears to be an intriguing subject and I have considered taking it. Quina was helpful in selecting this topic.
After receiving information from her about events for the deaf community, I decided to join one of these gatherings. The deaf community consists of people who communicate primarily through sign languages, including those who have attended specialized schools for the deaf, children born to deaf parents, and sign language interpreters. While culturally deaf individuals mainly use sign language, not all signers are themselves deaf. Many hearing individuals grow up in or interact with culturally deaf communities. As most deaf people have hearing parents, it is common for their family members to learn sign language and become part of the inclusive deaf community.
Children born into Spanish-speaking families in the United States, as well as children of deaf parents who can hear, acquire spoken English from their family members, friends, and other English-speaking adults in their community. As a result, they become proficient in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English and are able to navigate easily between the two cultures. I had the privilege of observing various means of communication used by individuals with hearing impairments, such as the “Deaf coffee chat” that takes place twice a month at Starbucks in St. Matthews Mall where they socialize and interact with each other. Similar gatherings are also organized at other Starbucks locations. From my experience, it became clear that when communicating with the deaf community, establishing comfort is crucial just like it is with anyone else. Making eye contact helps them feel at ease. Some people use sign language while others rely on interpreters or lip-reading techniques. Individuals who identify themselves as “hard of hearing” or “deafened” may have knowledge of sign language but primarily communicate using English as their main language. Every person I met had unique qualities; they want to be acknowledged without being labeled based on disabilities or differences from those who can hear.
During the interview, I spoke with Mary Wilson, a member of the deaf community. Mary is a young woman in her thirties who was born deaf and communicates using ASL. My friend Quina introduced us, and she interpreted our conversation even though there was already a sign interpreter present. I expressed my nervousness to Mary and told her that I am working on an essay about the deaf community. She appreciated my interest because she observed that many people don’t try to understand or learn about those who are deaf or hearing impaired unless they have a personal connection.
Having the opportunity to meet Mary, who has embraced life fully despite being deaf, was a privilege. She communicated using sign language her entire life and taught me basic greetings and farewells. It was delightful to witness the diverse ways in which she and others like her communicate, as they sat together enjoying coffee and engaging in casual conversations using sign language.
The deaf community consists of individuals who are either deaf or have difficulty hearing and primarily use sign language to communicate. They share beliefs, values, and behaviors, and are part of local communities for the deaf. Throughout history, different countries have had distinct deaf communities with their own cultural backgrounds and often using different sign languages. In the United States, culturally deaf people are united by American Sign Language (ASL), as well as a shared history and various traditions. Most culturally deaf individuals are born with or develop hearing loss at an early age.
Approximately 21-28 million people in the United States have hearing impairment or are deaf. Within this group, a smaller subset of 100,000-200,000 individuals identify as culturally deaf. The majority of other deaf individuals either experience hearing loss later in life or do not primarily use sign language for communication during childhood. Culturally deaf communities can be found across the United States, including cities such as Chicago, Illinois; New York City; San Francisco, California; and Washington, D.C.
Despite not residing in identical communities, culturally deaf individuals often interact and gather at sign language events. They are identified by shared traits of deafness and the utilization of a visual language. While deafness is a pivotal aspect of their culture, not all culturally deaf individuals have total or severe hearing loss. Similar to the diverse range of skin tones within the African American community, culturally deaf people also exhibit variations in their level of hearing impairment.
People in the Deaf culture who are hard of hearing receive both admiration and criticism because they appear more similar to hearing individuals. In Deaf culture, collectivism is a prominent cultural characteristic where Deaf people view themselves as part of a cohesive group. They see themselves as interconnected and enjoy the companionship of fellow Deaf individuals, actively seeking opportunities to socialize together. When two Deaf individuals meet, their initial focus is on discovering each other’s origins and common Deaf acquaintances.
Physical appearance is significant in signed communication, as it serves as the background. Occasionally, a person’s name may not be mentioned until the conversation’s end. Open communication is closely linked to collectivism. Withholding information or keeping secrets opposes an interconnected collective. Deaf individuals highly value their language – ASL. They often spend most of their lives with people unfamiliar with ASL. Only when Deaf people are with others who are also Deaf do all communication barriers disappear.
ASL is a visual language, and its visual nature has an impact on communication. Unlike spoken languages, ASL requires constant eye contact between the speaker and listener. Diverting our attention and eyes to environmental noises is something that hearing people are not accustomed to. However, in signed conversations, lack of eye contact or broken eye contact signifies indifference from the Deaf perspective.
In addition, many hearing individuals do not effectively utilize their face and body for communication, causing Deaf individuals to perceive their communication as lacking emotion and vitality. Facial expressions and body language play a crucial role in ASL, with Deaf individuals being skilled at interpreting subtle movements.
In Deaf culture, touch also holds significance for greetings, farewells, getting attention, and expressing emotions.
According to Anna Mindess, being a member of the Deaf community is not determined by one’s ability to hear but rather by their own identity and actions. To be considered part of this community, an individual must self-identify as such and gain acceptance from other members. It is important to note that joining the Deaf community is a personal choice, as not all individuals who are deaf or have hearing impairments choose to be part of it. This experience has taught me the significance of avoiding judgments or pity towards communities that differ from our own and instead striving to understand them without relying on preconceived notions. Spending time with the deaf community has shown me that they are not fundamentally different from us, regardless of whether they communicate through spoken language or sign language.
They are highly engaged in their lives and, in addition to using sign languages, Deaf culture has unique behaviors and manners that establish its social norms. This encounter has made me realize the importance for my own community to be more sociable with one another and come together as a whole. Additionally, I believe that my community should avoid being judgmental towards different aspects, especially if we lack firsthand experience or knowledge about them. In addition to writing this paper, this realization will impact my life as it has introduced me to a new community and their way of life, encouraging me to be more open to learning not only about them but also about other communities.
This was a very great experience and I’m happy that I did it. Works Cited Page “Deaf Culture”. Ed. Anna Mindess. 2006. Wikipedia, The free Encyclopedia. 17 October 2009, 17:18 UTC. 22 October 2009 . “Deaf Culture”. Ed. Charlotte Baker and Carol Padden. 1978. Wikipedia, The free Encyclopedia. 17 October 2009, 17:18 UTC. 22 October 2009 . “Deaf Culture”. Vers.Microsoft Corporation.All rights reserved1993-2009 Microsoft corporation.All rights resrv.Ed.Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia
