RUNNING HEAD: Deaf Culture

Deaf Culture Unkown to the Hearing World

Gracie DiGennaro
CIS 110

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Abstract:
In the paper that follows you will find information of the Deaf community. It
focuses specifically on the History of the Deaf culture from the very early days to the
present day and how it has evolved. Including the history of American Sign Language. In
addition it talks about the community as a whole. What kinds of things they do socially
and how they view people who are not a part of their culture. Typically they are
welcoming of outsiders as long as they are willing to try to become a part of the Deaf
community. Finally the stereo-types and the physical or educational difficulties that Deaf
people commonly have to deal with.

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Have you ever encountered a deaf person? If not do you think you would be
comfortable communicating with someone who was deaf? When you hear the word deaf
you usually think of someone who has no ability to hear. There is a large communication
barrier between the deaf and hearing community. Because of this there is a lot of anxiety
associated with the two cultures coming together. Through my research and interviews I
have discovered that deaf people actually welcome hearing people as long as they are
willing to get involved in their community. I have discovered the history of the Deaf
community and the social aspect of their culture. In this paper I will discuss the history
of the deaf community including the history of American Sign Language. In addition I
will discuss the social aspects of the community and how they feel about outsiders.
Finally I will discuss the challenges that they face as a community and individually.
Being deaf is a lot more than a lack of hearing, deaf is a culture and a community.
To outsiders the deaf community seems to be a very exclusive group. Personally
as an outsider trying to get involved in the community I felt very nervous. I felt like I
couldnt fully understand the strength in the bond of the community because I am not a
real part of it. The reason they are so tight nit is because they have had to overcome so
many obstacles to be recognized as a community of people. Very early on deaf and mute
citizens were not recognized as citizens. They had different laws and rights and were not
allowed to be witnesses in court (cute sound and fury). No one believed they should be
educated either so they were not allowed in school. The invention of sign language had a

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big impact on the community and changed the future of the Deaf community for the
better.
American Sign Language has come a long way since it was first invented. The
first version of sign language was invented in the early 1600s by Italian physician,
Geronimo Cardano, who taught his deaf son to communicate thru a symbol system
(Bacon, P). In 1620 the first alphabet book of manual signs became published by Jaun
Pablo Bonet. In the next several hundred years sign language became more popular
starting in Europe. American sign most closely resembles the French sign language. At
the same time people believed that deaf people should learn to speak and write just like
the hearing. In a move with repercussions well into the future, this international
gathering of deaf educators pronounces oral education methods superior to manual
communications systems. (Bacon, P). This move to stop the use of sign language
outraged the deaf community. It got to the point where they would tie students wrists
together with rope to prevent them from communicating through signing. Eventually the
deaf community fought for their rights back and sign language was once again an
accepted way of communication. Today both techniques are taught in school but
American Sign Language is the primary method of communication. Another big part of
communication among the Deaf community is non-verbal communication. Non verbal
communication is more important in the deaf community than the hearing because they
have no way of hearing tones and inflections in language. Your facial expression and
body language in the deaf culture tells you the tone. Because of this facial expressions are
often over exaggerated and emphasized so that there is no question how they feel. I
observed a conversation between two deaf students who were talking about a subject they

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enjoy. They used large smiles, nodded their heads, had very good eye contact and had
relaxed posture facing each other. Eye contact is so important and it is considered rude to
break eye contact. In fact while talking to the teacher at St. Rita's school for the deaf, I
was told that you should avoid looking at the hands when they sign and you should
instead focus on eye contact. Communication is not reserved for hearing people alone,
and using ones voice is not the only way to
communicate (Parasnis, I).
After sign language was invented
schooling for the Deaf was now the next thing
on their minds. In 1864 the first all deaf
college was established by Thomas Hopkins
Gaulladet (Bacon, P ). This was an amazing
triumph for the deaf community after being

GALLAUDET COLLEGE CAMPUS

Image by: The National Association
for the Deaf

oppressed for so long.

In 1880 the National
Association for the deaf
was founded to be a
voice for deaf people
throughout America.
The NAD was
instrumental in getting

the Deaf community

Picture by: Megan Havens

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where it is today. They advocated on behalf of the Deaf population. Today the deaf
community has developed deep roots in their history and they have a strong social bond
that brings them all very close together.

An interesting part of the deaf community is how involved they are with each other
socially. In the hearing world we do things like go to the movies, dinner concerts, ect.
Some of these things like concerts need to be heard. It surprises most people to know that
deaf people actually have musical concerts too. When interviewing Megan Havens, a
teacher at St. Ritas School for the Deaf, she talked in detail about public events that are
unique to the deaf community. One being the concerts. In these concerts they sign the
songs and play music very loudly so they are able to feel the vibrations. These concerts
draw the community together and they really enjoy attending the concerts. To the left is a
picture of a deaf concert. Another type of event she told me about was silent dinners.
These events take place usually once a month and no one who attends can communicate
orally. This is one way they invite hearing people to get a taste of their culture and try to
get them involved. Megan Havens, a hearing adult, described her emersion into the deaf
culture and her active role as follows I am an active member through my work at a
school for the Deaf, as well as by attending Deaf events such as silent dinners, interpreted
shows, etc. in order to socialize with the Deaf community (Megan Havens). As an
outsider to the deaf community Megan does things the Deaf way so that they will
accept and apprieataicte her willingness to become involved.
One of the biggest issues between the hearing and deaf comunities is the anxiety
on both ends for being accepted and welcomed into the opposite culture. Meera Domir is

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a deaf teacher at St. Ritas School for the Death and she decribed how she felt about
socializing with the hearing culture, It has made me doubt socializing with hearing
people who dont try to understand me as a person or about deaf and ASL (Meera
Domir). I also asked Meera how she thought hearing people viewed her and this is
what she said Some people are accepting of me. But others think I am not capable
of doing certain things or look down on me for my deafness (Meera Domir). Overall
if an attempt is made on each end to understand the other culture each is very
welcoming and friendly.
Since the beginning the Deaf community has dealt with a lot of stereotypes
placed on them from the hearing world. The most common being that Deaf is dumb.
In a book called The Cultural and Language Diversity and the Deaf Experience By Ila
Parasnis she says the following about the Deaf and dumb debate A relic from the
medieval English era, this is the granddaddy of all negative labels pinned on deaf and
hard of hearing people. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, pronounced us deaf and
dumb, because he felt that deaf people were incapable of being taught, of learning, and
of reasoned thinking. To his way of thinking, if a person could not use his/her voice in
the same way as hearing people, then there was no way that this person could develop
cognitive abilities. (Parasnis, I) The hearing world viewed being deaf as a handicap and
thought they were missing something. To the deaf community this was extremely
offensive because it is not true. Deaf people are just as capable of hearing people. Even
today this stereotype still exists. Meera Domir had said that she often feels the same
stereotype. The hearing world has come a long way since the early days of not
recognizing the Deaf as people but there is still work to be done to bridge these two

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cultures.
Through my research I have discovered that being Deaf is more than a word.
They are a part of something that is socially personally and educationally enriching. It
has been said Communication is not reserved for hearing people alone, and using ones
voice is not the only way to communicate. (National Association of the Deaf) The Deaf
culture is strong vibrant community of people who offer a lot of support to each other.
Challenge yourself and go observe for your self. Get out of your comfort zone you
never know what you will discover in the silence.

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References:

Bacon, P. (n.d.). Deaf Culture. Retrieved October 17, 2014.

National Association of the Deaf. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2014.
Parasnis, I. (1996). Cultural and Language Diversity and the Deaf
Experience (Vol. 1, p. 52). Cambridge University Press.
Woodward, J. (1972). Implications for Sociolinguistic Research among the
Deaf. Sign Language Studies, 1-7.