С.
БогдановичIn the United States, approximately ten percent of the population lives with some degree of hearing loss [1]. As hearing loss is the most common birth defect, the number of individuals is only expected to rise with an estimated population of 40 million people by 2025 [2]. Our society is largely designed for a hearing population and those with hearing loss are faced with many challenges in finding education, opportunity and acceptance. Nevertheless, many with hearing impairments have come to embrace their identity and assert their ability to contribute meaningfully to society as a whole. This growing sentiment has given rise to the ideology of deafness as a cultural trait, not necessarily a disability or handicap.
The Deaf Community is a “group who views deafness with a sense of pride that serves to unite its members and positively shape their sense of self-identity and self-concept” [3]. Furthermore, the study of Deaf Culture has taken root in academic departments outside the fields of medicine or special education, alongside linguistic, literary and anthropological study of other cultural groups like African American studies, Hispanic studies, etc. Thus, for the student of American culture, Deaf Cultural Studies offers a unique and interesting window into understanding the contemporary United States. And for the student of linguistics, the development and history of American Sign Language offers fascinating research opportunities.
Before entering into the cultural discussion of the Deaf Community, it is necessary to define several terms associated with hearing loss. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an impairment is defined as a loss of structure or function. The limitations that result from such an impairment are known as activity limitation or disability. If an individual experiences a restricted ability to participate in society, this is referred to as a handicap [4]. All people with any degree of hearing loss have an impairment. Many experience disabilities in the form of difficulty or inability to understand conversations or communicate. Disability can lead to social isolation, poor relationships, lack of independence, or other handicap, but not all people with hearing impairment or disability experience handicap.
In the United States, the word deaf refers to all people with profound hearing loss. It is now convention to use capitalized Deaf when referring to those who identify themselves with a culturo-linguistic community revolving around the use of Sign Language [5]. As with any culture, language plays an integral role in defining the value systems and beliefs its members. American Sign Language (ASL) is used by Deaf speakers in the U.S. and some parts of Canada. It comes fourth on the list of all languages learned in universities in the U.S [6]. ASL is a complex, rule-governed, non-verbal language largely independent American English, complete with regional dialects and individual variations. It was recognized as an official language in the 1960’s [7]. ASL acts as the foundation for Deaf Culture, which has rich history, traditions and folklore passed from generation to generation.
Hearing impairment is colloquially referred to as “hearing loss.” But many are born with profound hearing impairment, never having the ability to hear and thus have not actually “lost” anything. A recent trend in the Deaf Community flips this description on its head and instead promotes the idea of “Deaf gain.” Deaf gain asks the question: how can our society be improved through the inclusion of Deaf perspective? In the words of a renowned professor of Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, “what might normally be seen as a biological loss can actually be seen as individual and social gain in guarding against the perils of monocultural vulnerability” [8]. As the U.S. prides itself on multicultural values and diverse perspectives, it follows that the inclusion of Deaf Culture can only contribute to the melting pot.
Many artists, architects, lawyers and public figures are bringing the idea of Deaf gain to mainstream America. In accordance with the American Disabilities Act of 1990, public spaces and music venues are required to provide ASL interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees [9]. Amber Galloway Gallego is a ASL interpreter for music venues who is known for her work with countless famous artists during musical acts, from Lady Gaga and Adele to Kendrick Lamar and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Instead of using traditional sign language, she imbibes her interpretation with the emotion of the performer and the texture of the music [10]. Gallego and other interpreters have gained recent national attention from hearing and deaf people alike for their entertaining and captivating performances. Thus, by making music accessible for the deaf, hearing people also benefit from the inclusion. In another cultural sphere, a recent exposé showed the design of building for the Deaf at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC by architect Hansel Bauman. The principles of light, acoustics and visibility reflect the needs of deaf students to visually connect to others. In an increasingly visual world, these principles can be employed in design of public spaces, enhancing the experience of hearing and deaf individuals [11].
Gallego and Bauman represent only a small example of the development and inclusion of Deaf Culture in the U.S. They are part of a cultural wave of acknowledging the potential and innovation of a large group of the population. Deaf Culture is dynamic and its place in American society is evolving. It is impossible to fully understand Deaf Culture from an outside perspective, but it offers a rich field of study for understanding the diverse landscape of the U.S. Furthermore, the concept of Deaf gain can be and is being applied on an international scale and Deaf communities are gaining increasing access and visibility in countries all over the world.
A note to the student of English as a Foreign Language
Talking about disabilities can often be a source of confusion for a student of English. One useful tool is the concept of Person First Language, that is, putting the person before their disability. Just as we would say, for example, “my mother has cancer” instead of “my mother is cancerous,” it follows that we should say that someone has a mental or physical disability, rather than saying that a person is disabled [12]. While this is a useful tool in general, it would not apply to someone who counts themselves a member of the Deaf Community as a Deaf person does not view their hearing impairment as a disability but rather a cultural trait.
