Deaf Culture – The Phoenix
Kendall Todd
May 24, 2011
Hearing that a person is deaf leads most to think about the
physical nature of not being able to hear sound. Sound is something the
hearing world relies on to describe life’s experiences. What if I were
to tell you there is an entire community which believes the lack of
ability to hear sound actually defines a unique and beautiful life
experience? Would this confuse you? It did me. How can not having the
ability to hear (one of the attributes I use to define each and every
day) not be an essential piece to fully describing life? The answer
lies within the concept of Deaf culture.
It is difficult to find a single definition of “Deaf
culture.” There are facets embraced by one group yet slightly varied in
another. First consider the definition of culture:
the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs,
institutions, and all other products of human work and thought (American
Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2011). Now consider the
definition of deaf: lacking or deficient in the sense of hearing
(Merriam-Webster, 2011).
So, when put together, the definition of Deaf culture here would
be:
the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs,
institutions, and all other products of human work and thought for those
who are lacking or deficient in the sense of hearing. If only it were
this easy. The fact of the matter is no culture can be so easily
defined. It seems there is room for multiple interpretations of the
concept. One common thread amongst attempts to define Deaf culture is
the idea that it is a positive way of describing one’s identity.
Using labels like “hearing-impaired” and “deafness” do not allow for
celebration and the taking of pride in the unique quality of being deaf
and communicating with a common language.
Members of the Deaf community tend to view
deafness
as a difference in human experience rather than a
disability
(Paddy, 2003). People who are a part of the community may also be
family members, those who know and interpret using ASL, or simply can
relate to other members in the community due to an experiential
connection. As with all social groups to which a person chooses to
belong, a person is a member of the Deaf community if he/she identifies
him/herself as a member of the Deaf community, and other members accept
that person as a part of the community (Baker;
Padden, 1978).
At this point in my studies, there is no possible way I could do justice
to defining the concept of Deaf culture. Reading about it is a start.
But I have come to realize authentic experiences with those within the
Deaf community are imperative. This will give me the opportunity to use
the skills I have learned in isolation. More importantly, it will give
me insight by allowing me to experience the celebration which takes
place within the Deaf community. In an attempt to develop my own
definition of Deaf culture, I cannot help but envision the concept of
the mythological fire spirit of the phoenix. In the words of the Roman
poet Ovid,
From the body of the
parent bird, a young Phoenix issues forth, destined to live as long a
life as its predecessor. When this has grown up and gained sufficient
strength, it lifts its nest from the tree, and carries it to the city of
Heliopolis in Egypt, and deposits it in the temple of the Sun
(Bulfinch, 1913).
Much like that of the phoenix, a community
has risen from what some would call the ashes of oppressive labels and
stereotypical judgment into the birth and growth of what is now known as
Deaf culture.
Works Cited:
·
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition (online version). (2011).
·
Baker, Charlotte; Padden,
Carol. American Sign Language: A Look at Its Story, Structure and
Community. (1978).
·
Bulfinch, Thomas. Age of Fable: Vols. I & II: Stories of
Gods and Heroes. (1913).
·
Ladd, Paddy. Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of
Deafhood. Multilingual Matters. (2003).
·
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2011).