Deaf Culture

Culturally Deaf

In general, we do not need to add the word "culturally" to the uppercase word "Deaf." The phrase "culturally Deaf" is redundant because the uppercase spelling of the term "Deaf" already includes the concept of "culture." See Deaf with a Capital "D"

Interpreter for the Deaf or Interpreter

In the Deaf Community we tend to refer to individuals who interpret as "interpreters" or even "terps" (but not "translators"). Also, interpreter is spelled with "er" not "or." In ASL class discussions, the phrase "interpret" means to go from spoken English to ASL or from ASL to spoken English.

Non-Manual Markers (NMM)

Non-manual markers are facial expressions or body movements that are used to inflect or modify signs. We use NMM's to change, influence, or emphasize the meaning of a sign or signed phrase. For example, when asking a question that can be answered with a "yes" or "no" you raise your eyebrows a bit and tilt your head forward slightly.

Eye contact

Not looking at the person who is signing to you is considered rude. You are expected to look at the person when he/she signs to you.

Phrase

"Deaf People Can Do Anything Except Hear.": This is a popular phrase in the Deaf world. Note: Actually, the reality is that there are many varying degrees of residual hearing amongst culturally Deaf people—from "profoundly" deaf, to hard of hearing. This is similar to the way Blind people have varying degrees of sight. Some see no light at all, but many can see "quite a bit" or even read—particularly with magnification. It could be argued that some people with "normal" hearing are culturally Deaf by virtue of having Deaf parents and having grown up in the Deaf community.

Deaf Tendencies, also known as "Deaf Bing,"

("bing" is not a typo - it is a mouth movement that often accompanies the sign "TEND-to.") These are social and behavioral norms within the Deaf community.

Hearing

(Hearing People or Hearies): Non-Deaf people. Specifically people who can hear and are unfamiliar with Deaf Culture, (but can include all hearing people).

National Technical Institute for the Deaf

(NTID) is located in Rochester New York and is a popular choice for Deaf students.

Deaf Day School

Also known as Sign Day School, Deaf Day Program, Deaf Program, or Deaf Regional Schools. Students attend school during the day and then go home after school. The education is delivered via American Sign Language or other signed systems, such as SEE.

Deaf School or School for the Deaf

A Deaf-School is typically considered to be a state-run residential education institution. Students live there during the week and go home on the weekends or holidays. State residential schools for the Deaf are important institutions in the Deaf community. This is different from a "Deaf program" or a "day program" where students do not live on campus. American Sign Language is used, more often than not, in Deaf schools. Attending a Deaf school is a source of pride for many Deaf and is a place where many form life-long bonds with their classmates, teachers, and cottage parents.

Correcting a Deaf person's signing

A Hearing person should not correct a Deaf person's signing. This is a taboo practice and will often be regarded as a personal slight or insult. A Deaf person, however, may correct a Hearing person's signing, regardless if the Hearing person is new or has been signing for a long time. (Get over it. It's cultural.)

Carpal Tunnel (CT)

A syndrome involving numbness and/or pain in the wrists. This is a common problem affecting interpreters for the Deaf and many Deaf people.

American Sign Language (ASL),

ASL is a visually perceived language based on a naturally evolved system of articulated hand gestures and their placement relative to the body, along with non-manual markers such as facial expressions, head movements, shoulder raises, mouth morphemes, and movements of the body.

Bell, Alexander Graham

Alexander Graham Bell is often referred to as AGB in the Deaf community. In general, AGB has been held in low esteem, (to put it mildly), by many in the Deaf community because of his efforts to suppress the use of sign language in favor of oralism.

Uppercase Deaf / Lowercase deaf

Standard American print media sources tend to lowercase the word deaf. However, in the Deaf World many authors typically use the lowercase spelling to refer to physical deafness and use the uppercase spelling to refer to someone who has internalized the language, beliefs, values, traditions, attitudes, manners, and ways of the Deaf community.

Milan Conference

The Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, also known as the Milan Conference, was the first international conference comprised of Deaf educators. It took place in September of 1880 in Milan, Italy. One unfortunate outcome of this conference was the passage of a resolution banning the use of sign language as a method of educating the Deaf.

Storytelling

The ability to skillfully tell a story is highly valued in Deaf Culture.

Deaf Community

The community of Deaf people throughout the world who use sign language and share in Deaf culture.

Gallaudet, Edward Miner

The youngest Son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet was the founder and the first superintendent of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and the Dumb (Renamed Gallaudet College in 1893 and renamed again in 1986, Gallaudet University upon receiving university status) in 1857 in Washington, D.C. He served as a president from 1864 to 1910. (Source: Gallaudet.com)

IPP/ITP/IEP/etc.

There are many acronyms used in the Deaf Community to refer to programs that prepare participants to interpret for the Deaf: Interpreter Preparation Program, Interpreter Training Program, Interpreter Education Program, etc.

Bilingual/Bicultural or BiBi

This is a philosophy of embracing two languages and cultures. In terms of Deaf education, the BiBi approach uses ASL as the student's native language you use a student's native language as well as the target language. You also make instructional choices that respect your student's cultural background as well as the mainstream culture.

Meeting new people

Upon meeting for the first time, Deaf people tend to exchange detailed biographical information and describe our social circles in considerable depth.

Removing visual barriers

Visual obstructions such as table decorations, vases, and condiments are typically removed or pushed off to the side.

Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) or Deaf Interpreters

are Deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are interpreters for the Deaf and work as part of a team of interpreters. CDIs are especially effective when interpreting for a Deaf consumer who has minimal language skills or use signs that are unfamiliar to the Hearing interpreter.

Classifiers

are signs that are used to represent general categories or "classes" of things. They can be used to describe the size and shape of an object (or person). They can be used to represent the object itself, or the way the object moves or relates to other objects (or people). Another definition is: "A set of handshapes that represent classes of things that share similar characteristics."

Gallaudet University

in Washington D.C. is a liberal arts college for Deaf and hard of hearing students and is held in very high regard by culturally Deaf people.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

includes a section requiring that the disabled be given access and equal opportunity to use the resources of organizations that receive federal funds or that are under federal contracts

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

is a Federal requirement that seeks to respond to the question "What education environment is "least restrictive" (for a child with a disability)?" Unfortunately many Hearing parents and administrators feel that mainstreaming is the LRE whereas most culturally Deaf individuals and organizations believe that a residential school for the Deaf is the LRE. There are many options in-between—for example, a local school with an interpreter, a day program, an inclusive charter school, or some other education environment.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

is a civil rights law that came into effect in 1990, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, and ensures equal access for all, such as transportation, housing, employment, education, telecommunication, medical services and businesses. https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

International Sign

is a highly visual / gestural hybrid of various signed languages that is used as type of "contact" or intermediary language commonly signed when users of different signed languages come into contact with each other at international events such as the Deaflympics or the World Federation of the Deaf congress.

Deaf Gain

is a mindset where one regards or focuses on being Deaf as an advantage. An example of Deaf gain is being able to sleep even though the neighbor's dogs have been barking all night.

Total Communication (TC)

is a philosophy of Deaf Education that advocates using signing, voicing, writing, and other methods of communication.

Signing Exact English or Signed Exact English (SEE)

is a signed system was developed in 1971 to represent English on the hands with the intent to assist deaf children in the acquisition of English.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

is an agreement developed by a team of educators, caregivers, parents, and others to establish educational goals for students with special needs. An IEP can stipulate the provision of additional services for students such as speech therapy, an interpreter, or other accommodations. Deaf students enrolled in K-12 are generally entitled to an IEP.

Cued Speech

is an approach to speech reading that makes use of 8 handshapes held in 4 different positions that are used as "cues" to assist in determining what is being said.

Deaf-mute

is an outdated term and is generally considered offensive in the Deaf community. Instead, just use the term Deaf. The word "mute" by itself when referring to someone who in fact cannot speak - is not offensive. What is offensive is the assumption that all Deaf are unable to speak. That is not true. Many do. Also, some Deaf factions have sought to reclaim the word "mute."

Hearing Impaired

is an outdated term and is one that is shunned in the Deaf community. We refer to ourselves as "Deaf." When referring to all people with a hearing loss we tend to use the phrase, "Deaf and hard of hearing." Sample of outdated usage: The Regional Center for the Hearing Impaired." A sample of a current, appropriate usage: "The Regional Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing." While at one time the phrase "hearing impaired" was considered to be politically correct, it was an external label applied to Deaf people by Hearing people.

Manually Coded English/MCE

is an umbrella term that includes various signing systems designed to portray English on the hands. These various systems can be lumped under the term MCE, or Manual English, or "Signed English."

Lexicalized fingerspelling

is fingerspelling that has changed over time to take on the characteristics of a sign. A lexicalized fingerspelled word tends to look like and be expressed as a single sign rather than a collection of fingerspelled letters. Some ASL books or articles indicate lexicalized fingerspelling by putting a # symbol in front of the letters. For example: #ALL. Regular fingerspelling is glossed by placing dashes between the letters. For example, C-A-T.

American Sign Language

is the language of choice of Culturally Deaf people in the United States, much of Canada, and a number of other areas in the world.

Deaf pride

is the sense of pride exhibited by Deaf people in their cultural identity.

Handedness

is the tendency to use the hand that feels the most natural for the task. This is your dominant hand.

Tactile signing

is used by the DeafBlind to converse in ASL. The receiver places a hand (or hands) on the signer's hand (or hands) and follows the movements of the signer. (Note: DeafBlind has various spellings but the spelling doesn't use a hyphen seems to be increasingly favored by DeafBlind individuals. You will see it with or without a hyphen. Always strive to defer to individual preferences.)

Deaf Space

is usually an area that has been claimed or designated by the Deaf as a place where Deaf can intermingle without communication barriers. In the Deaf space, there is no voicing. This means that everyone, even Hearing people, are signing. The area is well lit and the sitting is ideal for Deaf conversation.

Indexing

is when you point your index finger at a person who is or isn't in the signing area. If the person is in the room, you point directly at the person. This is called present referent. If the person is not in the room, you point to a space in front of you to represent that person. This is called absent referent.

Simultaneous Communication or Sim-Com

is when you sign and voice at the same time. Signing and voicing at the same time is frowned upon by many Deaf academics and Deaf community leaders. However, many Deaf individuals "do" use sim-com quite a bit -- especially when in mixed Deaf/Hearing environments.

The Fair Housing Act

prohibits landlords, condominium management companies, and homeowners' associations from discrimination based on disability. No one may refuse to rent or sell housing, or make housing unavailable, or set different rules or conditions for the sale or rental or use of housing, because of disability

Hearing Privilege

refers the privileges and advantages afforded to the Hearing because they can hear and speak -- privileges that are not readily available to the Deaf.

Deaf Plus

refers to Deaf people who are also disabled or have secondary conditions. For example a Deaf person who also has cerebral palsy.

Oral / Oralism

refers to a philosophy of encouraging (forcing) Deaf to speak and read lips rather than use sign language.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)

refers to an interpreting service that is provided to remote locations, or locations where a live interpreter is not readily accessible. An interpreter will show up on a computer screen or tablet viewed by the Deaf consumer. The hearing person, who is in same room as the Deaf consumer, will talk -- and the interpreter interprets remotely.

Deaf with a Capital "D"

refers to being culturally Deaf. A Deaf person is someone who embraces the cultural norms and values of the Deaf Community.

deaf with a lowercase "d"

refers to being physically deaf, (not culturally Deaf). Physical "deafness" refers to a level of hearing below which a person is unlikely to understand speech for everyday communication purposes. For example, a person's hearing is not sufficient use the phone.

Late Deafened Adults (LDA)

refers to individuals who have lost their hearing later in life. If a person grew up outside of the Deaf community and lost their hearing near or during adulthood, they are generally considered LDAs.

Hard of Hearing (HoH)

refers to people who have some hearing loss but can generally use the phone with amplification and can understand spoken speech depending on a number of factors including: distance, volume, facial hair, lighting, familiarity with topic, situational cues, accents, and noise. Thus the environment has a big impact on whether a HoH functions as a hearing person or a Deaf person.

Audism

refers to the mindset that the ability to hear makes one superior to those who do not hear. Audism is typically manifested in the attitudes and behaviors of those that subscribe to the pathological model that deafness is a negative attribute, a flaw.

ASLTA

stands for American Sign Language Teachers Association. It is a national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching of ASL and Deaf Studies. (For more information, see: http://aslta.org/)

ASDC

stands for American Society for Deaf Children. This organization was set up in 1967 and has chapters all over the U.S. Their purpose is to provide support, encouragement, and information to families raising children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. (For more information, see: http://www.deafchildren.org)

CODA

stands for Child of Deaf Adult. In the Deaf world, a hearing child of Deaf parents is referred to as a Coda. Codas are generally considered to make the best interpreters because of their familiarity with ASL and Deaf Culture.

NERDA

stands for Not Even Related to a Deaf Adult. This is a comical reference to Hearing people who don't have ties to the Deaf World.

RID

stands for Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The RID is the world's largest association of interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The RID conducts and promotes certification of interpreters for the Deaf. See www.RID.org.

Deaf President Now (DPN)

was both a campus protest and an international Deaf movement. It took place the week of March 6, 1988 at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Elizabeth Zinser, a hearing woman, had been newly elected president of Gallaudet University. The students and international Deaf Community demanded and received a Deaf president: I. King Jordan.

The Individual with Disabilities Act, also known as Public Law 94-142

was passed in 1975. It is a federal law that requires states and school districts to ensure that children will receive a Free Appropriate Public Education, regardless of their disability status

Walking through Signed Conversations

If two people are standing in the hallway conversing in ASL and another person needs to pass through, the person should not call attention to themself by asking to be excused. Instead, the person should continue walking at a steady pace to minimize the distraction.

Non-dominant hand

If you are right-handed then your left hand is your non-dominant hand. If you are left-handed then your right-hand is your non-dominant hand. Sometimes the non-dominant hand is referred to as the "supporting hand or the base hand." Some textbooks or articles use the letters "nd" to refer to the non-dominant hand.

Lighting

Lighting and the ability to see each other are very important to Deaf people. One of the reasons Deaf people often prefer to hang out in the kitchen is because the lighting is better.

Progeny

Many Deaf couples hope for a deaf baby and are disappointed if their child is born hearing.

Pidgin Signed English (PSE)

also known as Contact Signing, typically consists of using basic ASL signs in English word order.

Gallaudet, Thomas Hopkins

Born December 10, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He entered Yale University at age 14. He graduated from Yale first in his class three years later, and decided to join the ministry. Reverend Gallaudet met Dr. Mason Cogswell and his Deaf daughter Alice. Dr. Cogswell persuaded Mr. Gallaudet to travel to England to study their methods of teaching Deaf students. There Gallaudet met a Deaf educator, Laurent Clerc, and convinced him to come back to America and help establish the first American school for the Deaf.

Deaf Standard Time

Many Deaf tend to show up late and tend to leave late. An exception to this rule is when good seating is at a premium. For example, Deaf college students may show up early to ensure that they get a satisfactory seat. Deaf church goers tend to show up early to make sure they get the front pews (if it is an interpreted session).

Stay Deaf

Many, if not most, Culturally Deaf people if given the chance to become able to hear -- would choose to remain deaf.

Culture

Deaf Culture consists of the norms, beliefs, values, and mores shared by members of the Deaf Community.

Seating arrangements

Deaf couples prefer to sit across from each other in restaurants, rather than side by side. In larger gatherings, Deaf prefer to sit in a circle where everybody can see each other.

Long Good-byes

Deaf leave-taking (good-byes) tend to be extended (take a long time).

Disability Status

Deaf people do not view ourselves as a disability group. Instead we see ourselves as a linguistic and cultural minority. We are an ethnic group with a shared culture and bonded together by a common language. This doesn't mean that there aren't physically deaf people in the U.S. who consider themselves disabled. There are indeed many such individuals--but they are generally not fluent in ASL, did not attend a state residential school for the Deaf, are not married to a Deaf person, did not attend Gallaudet or a university with a strong Deaf program, and cannot realistically be considered culturally Deaf, therefore they are not members of the cultural "Deaf Community."

View of Deafness—Cultural

Deaf people don't consider themselves to have a disease or problem that must be cured in order to have a good life. For example, an ASL teacher took a sign class to visit a Deaf party. Some of the students sat with the instructor in the Deaf circle. The instructor asked each Deaf person in turn if they would like to become hearing: "Suppose a magic pill could be taken and you would wake up the next morning 'Hearing' - would you do take the pill?" Each Deaf person responded (via signing) NO! The students were shocked. The teacher explained in class the next day that Deaf people do not consider our condition pathological. To the Deaf, our deafness is cultural. We do not see our condition as "deafness" but rather "Deafhood."

Hugs

Deaf people tend to hug more than Hearing (American) people.

Directionality, also called verb agreement or indicating verbs

Directionality is characterized by a movement of the sign that indications the subject and object of the verb. For example: she-SHOW-me. "She" is the subject, SHOW is the verb, and "me is the object. This concept is signed with one sign using one movement, instead of three separate signs. Some sources refer to these verbs as "inflecting verbs."

Glossing

Gloss is a written or typed approximation of (or notes regarding) another language. ASL gloss is a written or typed approximation of ASL typically using English words as "labels" for each sign along with various grammatical notes.

Fingerspelling/The American Manual Alphabet

It consists of 22 handshapes that when held in certain positions and/or are produced with certain movements-- represent the 26 letters of the American alphabet.

Hand Grabbing

It is common for Deaf people to grab the hands of new signers to correct their signing. However, Hearing people should be careful to avoid restraining the hands of Deaf people. For example, police officers should not handcuff a Deaf person's hands behind their back.

Clerc, Laurent

Laurent Clerc was born south of Lyons, France, in 1785. He became deaf due to an accident when he was very young. He enrolled at age 12 at the National Institute for the Deaf in Paris and graduated eight years later and became a tutor for the Institute. He journeyed to America at the request of Thomas H. Gallaudet in 1817 and helped establish the first American school for the Deaf. He retired at age 73.

View of Deafness—Pathological

Pathology (in general) is the study of disease. The pathological view of deafness is held by those people (typically in the medical profession) who view being deaf as a physical ailment or pathological condition that needs to be cured in order for the individual to enjoy a higher quality of life. This is opposite the "cultural view of Deafness."

Cultural Model

People who feel that Deafness is about language and culture subscribe to the "cultural" view of Deafness.

Pathological or Medical model

People who feel that being deaf is problem to be solved subscribe to the "pathological view" or the "medical model" of deafness.

Contact signing/PSE

Previously contact signing was referred to as Pidgin Signed English (PSE). When Deaf and hearing individuals come into contact they typically adjust their signing such that it becomes a "middle ground" between Signed English and ASL. Contact signing typically follows English word order while using ASL signs.

Switching Hand dominancy

Random switching of hand dominancy can be visually disconcerting. Stick with the same hand has your dominant hand.

Oral Schools

Schools that focus entirely on auditory and oral skills—no signing allowed whatsoever.

Sign Parameters

Signs are composed of parts we call parameters. The five most commonly discussed parameters of signs are: handshape, location, movement, palm orientation, and non-manual markers.

Voicing

Some deaf people never voice. Others voice as well as a typical Hearing person. Others engage in "selective voicing." One place you will sometimes see such Deaf people using voice is with their kids. In the home parents often need to get their kids attention and voicing is an easy way to do it. Also the children get used to the voice and can understand it just fine. Deaf are much less likely to voice to a Hearing stranger. With our kids we feel comfortable, but with strangers we feel very cautious (as any oppressed group would). We don't tend to voice when we are talking with another Deaf person. Why voice to other Deaf? Another reason for not voicing and signing is we can't use voicing and ASL grammar at the same time. (See Simcom). It is generally not appropriate to ask a Deaf person if they can voice.

Deafhood

The personal journey each Deaf person goes through as they develop their own Deaf identity and/or their personal view of what it means to be Deaf.

Mainstreaming

The placement of Deaf or hard of hearing students into a public school, (often with an interpreter or other accommodations).

Lipreading or speech reading

The practice of reading speech on the lips. Comprehension rate is typically very low but will vary widely depending on many factors including individual skill, familiarity of the subject matter and the speaker, residual hearing, the environment, shouting, accents, regional dialects, mustaches, beards, gum, cigarettes, cigars, lack of teeth, drunkenness, and any number of other issues. It is myth that all Deaf people can lipread.

Hearing school

The term "Hearing School" refers to any typical public school. In ASL we sign "HEARING"-culturally SCHOOL to mean "public school." A "Hearing School" is one at which the main mode of communication is "speaking."

Deaf-Blind or DeafBlind

The term can be spelled without a hyphen to indicate that a person is culturally Deaf as well as blind (as opposed to being merely physically deaf as well as blind). For example, a DeafBlind person will tend to use tactile signing. This is evolving terminology and one should always defer to the preferences of the DeafBlind community.

Attention getting techniques

We tend to try to catch an individual's attention by waving our hand or asking someone standing next to that person to get his attention for us. For larger groups of Deaf people, we'll flip the light switch on and off. If the floor is wooden, we'll stomp our feet on the floor to get people's attention.

Code-Switching

When a person who knows more than one language intentionally switches to another language or way of expressing themselves. For example, if two Deaf people are signing in ASL and are joined by a Hearing signer they may switch to a form of signing that is easier for the Hearing person to understand.

Signed languages

While ASL is used around the world in various countries, it is most definitely not universal. Each country has their own signed language or languages. For example, England uses British Sign Language, Mexico uses Mexican Sign Language, France uses French Sign Language and so forth.

Dominant Hand

You fingerspell and sign primarily with your dominant hand. If you write with your left hand, then your dominant hand should be your left. If you write with your right hand, your dominant hand should be your right. If you are ambidextrous, then it is best to pick one hand to be your dominant hand and stick with it. Left-handed people tend to sign a mirror image of right handed signers. One handed signs use the dominant hand.

Deaf and Dumb

You should drop the word dumb and just use the word "Deaf." Dumb is an outdated term and is considered offensive in the Deaf community.