I live in Rochester New York. This means that I live in an area where there are more deaf people per capita than anywhere in the U.S. This means that my school offers ASL (American Sign Language) as a Foreign Language class. And as an interested 8th grader, I took ASL.
Five years later, I have preformed in several ASL plays, joined the ASL club, and gone on several sign-related trips and activities. So I guess one could say I’ve learned a few things about the Deaf people and their culture. Yes, culture. Don’t believe me? Read on...
First of all, most people don’t understand the discrimination the Deaf people went through in this country. They have always been considered inferior, stupid, unable to learn or be of use. They are said to be disabled, needing some sort of cure to “fix” them. However, if you spoke with a deaf person, most would tell you they would rather be deaf had someone offered them a “cure.”
One example of discrimination was by a proclaimed hero and inventor of the telephone Alexander Graham Bell. Many know his wife and mother were deaf, and he was involved in the deaf community. Most do not know he assisted in outlawing the deaf people’s native language, ASL, and convinced many deaf schools to become strictly oralist schools, meaning they would only teach how to lip-read and speak. Most deaf people have much difficulty learning oralism, and statistically were poorly educated when taught to lip-read and speak rather than sign. The times when oralisim was said to be the best method of teaching was also named “The dark ages of the deaf.”
There are other instances of discrimination. For a time, no deaf person could get life insurance. No deaf person could be hired to work in a government job. These old policies have since been corrected through retaliation, but today most schools do not accept ASL as a true language.
A more recent example of hearing people trying to control the deaf is through education. Many deaf schools demand deaf presidents. For example, NTID, the Nation Technical Institute of the Deaf held protests when a hearing President was hired. The deaf people are tired of being misrepresented, and eventually gained a new deaf president last year.
The public also has many assumptions that are wrong about the deaf people. For example, not every deaf person can read lips or speak. The true language of the deaf is ASL. Most people also assume ASL is signed English. These are two very, very different languages. ASL has its own syntax and grammar that is more closely related to Japanese than English. Another assumption is that being deaf is a problem.
There is a distinct difference between deaf and Deaf. Being “deaf” is being unable to hear. Being “Deaf” is being proud of deaf culture and of who you are. Many Deaf people are fine with the way they are, and they take pride in their culture and language. I myself have found ASL as a beautiful way to express yourself with your hands, visually rather than verbally, and the deaf culture to be an interesting way of life all its own.
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I know how to say a few things in ASL, but I don't really know anyone who regularly uses ASL to practice communicating in that language. I think it's a beautiful language and love watching people who sign fluently, even if I don't recognize most of what they say.
This is straying from your topic a little bit, but I'm also fasinated with teaching babies to sign, so they can communicate at a younger age then they could verbally, although I think it would be better to teach them true ASL rather then the various forms of baby sign language that a lot of people are using.
You did a great job addressing some of the unique issues faced by people who are deaf, and telling about the Deaf culture. Also, I love your title.
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"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." - Marianne Williamson
My sister and law taught some sign to my neice. It was incredible to watch her do the symbols out to actually use them for communciation. I remember most vividly how she would tell her mother she was done. There were some other things she could relate that I don't remember, but atleast to me its seems to make a difference in later life. My niece is very good at reading and speaking for an almost 3 year old. Many children I see of the same age still seem rather infantile at times.
Your comment about babies learning sign language is very true. The reason is that a baby's mental capacity for language is almost always developed before their vocal chords. So by the time they actually learn to talk, they've wasted all that time they could have been communicating.
Even for hearing babies, I believe ASL should be taught first. I wish someone would do a study on language and communication skills of hearing babies who learned ASL before English but use both.
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I'm waiting on the world to change...
Are you?
True, a baby can start learning sign language at 5 months while most vocal languages do not start till after being a year old.
All babies start out with baby signs, it is simply how they perceive the sign at that time, but with time and the repeating of the proper sign the baby slowly learns the proper movements.
The most common sign to teach is "Milk" once the baby learns this they can tell you when they want milk... there are of course thousands of other signs but, in my opinion that, along with "dirty" "hungry" "tired" are the easiest to teach and for them to learn.
That was really cool and interesting. When I was younger I used to be obsessed with ASL and even performed a song in ASL. This is a good way to get people to understand the Deaf.
I'm jealous. Seriously, I'd love to take a few classes in ASL, but the times they offer it at my school conflict with the rest of my schedule, so I can never fit it in.
My cousin is deaf (caused by meningitis when he was a baby), and he's so quite that I feel I can't talk to him at all. Of course, he's also 14, I think, now, so he's naturally rebelling against everything. I'm jealous of my other cousin and my uncle, who can both sign fluently.
Excellent blog.
~C
Visit my blog.
you can always ask them to teach you basic signs so that you can communicate. Or, there is always the path of pen and paper.
I am quite envious and. . . a beau-ti-ful post! My daughter had a chorus concert recently and some of the songs were done in ASL. . I thought it was absolutely awesome!
None of the schools in our area offer these classes and I wish they would. We have many deaf students in my college and they have interpreters in class quite often. I actually learned to read lips a long time ago because of my security job and my kids think it's fascinating. My grandfather has had to read lips for years out of necessity because he has been hard of hearing for-ever. He will be 96 this year and only a few years back, decided to get a hearing aid.
Thank you for informing many about a seldom discussed topic. And by the way, you live in a GREAT place. . . I am originally from Syracuse and one of my siblings was born in Rochester. I truly miss New York and the people!
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"Truths Are The Roots To Trust"
When I was younger I was really interested in ASL. I thought it was one of those things I would really love to learn and share. Reading this post sort of reminded me of those days when I thought I could move mountains one day when I was older, not just learn ASL but other languages period. Now it's all I can do to not slip into "Oklahomese" on a regular basis. Great post.
Nate
"Being natural is such a difficult pose to keep up." Oscar Wilde
"It is forbidden to kill, therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." -- Voltaire
After reading this I feel kind bad. I went to Walmart the other day and went up to a sales associate and asked him for some help he started signing at me and I immediately freaked out because I never really met anyone that could only sign. My reaction surprised but I guess it is because I was never exposed to this culture like I am to everything else.
--I am nothing special, just the combined efforts of every
person I've ever met and every book I've ever read.
I took ASL in 8th grade. They dont offer it in high school. I wish they did though! It was my favorite class! We did a song with signs. It was awesome! I miss it so much.
I really agree with you when you say that ASL is deaf culture. I am a student who has been taking ASL for 2 years, adn not only do I find it one of the most fun languages I have taken, I also enjoy its people. Since ASL is mostly about expression, I excel in it. I've learned that deaf people are not "disabled", but they have a whole culture and community unto themselves that is fascinating.
I love watching people talk in ASL, though I don't know many of the words myself. It always looks beautiful to me, and I respect the fact that they are able to get along and through their lives though many expect that they are mentally handicapped and unable. I think people should be required to learn at least basic sign language, the way that they are required to take basics of Spanish or French.
Wow, thanks for the little window into the deaf world. It was kind of nice to read something that doesn't require controversey or reaction to be interesting.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
I'm impressed. :) Thank you so much for sharing!
"I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."
-Van Gogh
Thanks for posting this. ASL truly is a beatiful language.
To expand on the thought that Deaf people do not want to be "cured"...
I said it in another post but I will also say it here, many Deaf people that I meet at Deaf events; when they ask me if I am hearing or Deaf, and I reply hearing the response is generally "Oh, I'm sorry"
These people are proud of who they are and what they have.
This is all so true. That is awesome that you live in Rochester, I read the book about the school there and hope one day I will be able to go there and see it. Thankyou for saying what I could only say a little on.