United by Silence

By Shari Durrant
Kids playing outside. The phone ringing. Listening to a new CD. Everyday occurrences
we dont even think about, yet what would we do if they were missing? For many people that is a
fact of life, and that fact helps draw them closer together.
I was about 5 years old when I first saw a woman on TV using sign language to
communicate, and I was enthralled. No words were coming out of her mouth, but I could clearly
tell she was saying something. I wanted to know more. My parents bought me books about
American Sign Language (ASL), and I taught myself signs that I would string together as best I
could, and I picked up signs from other people I met. As a teenager, I learned that college courses
were available to get a degree in ASL. I knew then what I would be doing when I went to
college.
Then it happened. I walked into my first college ASL class, and by doing so, walked into
a world I had barely known existed, much less understood. My teacher was Deaf and could only
communicate with us in his natural language of ASL. Which meant if we wanted to understand
what was going on in class, we needed to practice and catch on quickly. The old phrase of
jumping in feet first certainly applied to this situation. Yet, even with the language barrier, it
was clear my teacher wanted us to have a good experience and understand what he was telling
us.
Along with learning grammar rules and new signs, I also learned that Deaf people have
their own culture and history. I learned that there was a difference between being deaf and being
Deaf. That Deaf people share a language and a history of oppression, both of which have drawn
them closer together as a group.

Language and culture are intertwined and inseparable in Deaf culture. (Various.)
Language is more important to the Deaf than the actual levels of hearing or hearing loss. A
person can be clinically deaf because they have a low hearing decibel, but the thing that truly
makes them Deaf is ASL. This distinction is made because attitude is more important than
whether or not a person can hear anything. A person could be unable to hear an explosion in the
next room, but if they do not cherish and treasure ASL, they are not Deaf.
Why this great love for their language? We all have language dont we? Why should a
language be what pulls a culture and community together with such tight bonds? Because Deaf
people have had to fight for their language, and anything worth fighting for should be held on to,
tightly, with both hands.
Fight for a language you ask. How would one do that? Why would they need to do it?
Here is where the history part comes in. Back in 1814 the first official school for the Deaf was
founded in Hartford, Connecticut. ( Padden, Humphreys.) Based on French sign language, deaf
children from all around started coming to the school to learn how to communicate in more than
just gestures and home signs. This became eventually became known as American Sign
Language (ASL). As those students grew and eventually graduated, they went out and started
schools of their own. ASL was unmistakably the language of the Deaf. As more schools opened
and Deaf people were able to interact with each other as never before, bonds were created that
would last a lifetime.
But as we all know, all good things must come to an end. Educators and language
professionals started coming into the schools insisting that all Deaf students must learn how to
speak and read lips. Those caught using their hands to communicate were swiftly and mercilessly
punished. George W. Veditz, a prominent leader in the Deaf community, expressed his feelings in

this manner They do not understand signs for they cannot sign. They proclaim that signs are
worthless and of no help to the deaf. Enemies of the sign language, they are enemies of the true
welfare of the deaf. (Valdez)
You might be wondering why it is such a terrible things for the Deaf to learn how to
speak rather than sign. It would be much easier for them to communicate with the general
population if they did. I might ask you to go learn how to speak German strictly from a text
book, with the only audio assistance coming from a garbled, 50 year old cassette tape, while you
are wearing ear plugs. That is a fairly close equivalent. It is very difficult to learn how to speak a
language that you cannot and never will hear. Those Deaf who can speak to varying degrees are
usually those who have some residual hearing that allows them to make out a few words.
In spite of, or maybe because of the oppression experienced, language pulls the Deaf
community together and gives them strength. This strength was seen in full force back in March
of 1988 when the students of Gallaudet rallied together in the Deaf President Now! protest.
(Lapiak) Gallaudet is the only all-Deaf university in the country, and in 1988 was getting ready
to welcome a new president. Over the years the school had been lead by many good men who
understood Deaf culture without being themselves Deaf. This year however, one of the
candidates was a well known and respected Deaf leader.
Imagine if you will the horror that was felt when the announcement came that it was not
the Deaf leader chosen, but a person who not only was not Deaf, but knew nothing of sign
language or Deaf culture. To put this in perspective, image a college for women, where the
majority of students are of ethnic minorities. Then imagine rather than the female candidate
being chosen, a white male and known chauvinist was chosen. Can you picture the outrage? That
is something like what happened at Gallaudet. Students began to protest the decision, and when

the Board of Directors would not give in, the students shut down the school. For a week, no one
was allowed on school campus until the demands of the students were met and a Deaf president
was appointed.
For many years, Deaf people have held on so tightly to their language that few people
outside of the community were aware of its existence. Within the last few decades, and also with
the protest at Gallaudet University, people have become more aware of this language. This has
led to an interesting decision for the Deaf community, should they continue to hold onto their
language and shun all who are not Deaf? Or do they open up to the possibility that some nondeaf people genuinely wish to learn about their language and culture. Thankfully for me their
decision was to share the beauty of what their language has to offer.
As I struggled to become more comfortable with the language, I was often encourage to
go to activities at the local Deaf Center, meet new people, and practice my skills. I am grateful
everyday to those who have been so patient with me as I struggled to get out even the simplest of
sentences and encourage me when I use the wrong sign by showing me the correct one and
waiting while I tried again. While I am by no means a full-fledged member of the Deaf
community, they let me come and visit on occasion. When I am there, they teach me about their
language, their histories, and their stories that have been passed down through the generations. It
never ceases to amaze me that they are so willing to share the one precious thing they all have in
common- their language.

Works Sited
Various Authors. About Deaf Culture. Gallaudet University. ND. Web. 2-28-2015
Padden, Carol, Humphreys, Tom. The History of Deaf Culture and Sign Language.
Wondersturck. ND. Web. 2-28-2015
Lapiak, Jolanta. Deaf President Now: a student protest movement.HandSpeak. ND. Web.
2-28-2015
Veditz, George W. The Preservation of Sign Language. RID. 1913. Web 3-2-2015