So What's New?
This is where you can write stuff and I will post it ...
Kind of like a "letters to the editor" thing....
Meanwhile -
Some facts and thoughts on Deafness.
Listed here is basic information about "The Deaf" and "The Deaf " Culture.
If you have anything you would like to add, please email me mydeafplace@yahoo.com and I will be sure to include it.
I am hearing and therefore will not pretend to know all that it means to be "Deaf" ...
I can no more understand about Deafness than a Deaf person would understand about hearing. (I am a student of sign now, for nearly 12 years)
What is so interesting about Deafness is the language. The language of sign. There was a documentary I saw a few years ago about children, they either couldn't hear or speak but, were still able to communicate. They had no teachings of sign language at all and within a short period of time, they were able to communicate with each other using hand signs. It was created as they went.
That documentary really shared something with me. Sign Language, whether ASL, ESL, PSL, or whatever, is truly a natural language.
No it can not be written down like other languages but, it does have its own grammar and rules of grammar. It has its own sentence structure which is basically, time, subject, object.
Sign Language borrows from English in the form of definition and actually words are borrowed and signs are made from those words but the meaning from English to ASL is most of the time very different!
Sign Language is not universal. There is not one sign language for all the world.
Each country would have its own sign language.
There is not a country that just has Deaf like there are countries that just have 'French, or Cambodians, etc..."
Deafness and Sign Language have evolved into an incredible entity in and of itself.
I heard that ASL is among one of the most popularly spoken languages in America.
What an amazing consideration. It is 3rd of 4th in American, competing with Island Pacificers and their language.
So, What is Deaf Culture?
A view of life manifested by beliefs, expression, understandings, and language (ASL) particular to Deaf people. That is fairly basic in definition.
There are no measurements to determin "Legally Deaf" as there are with say, "legally blind" ...
Those that are hard of hearing or hearing impaired ...some do not consider themselves Deaf, but simply hearing challenged. They have been hearing and now are deaf. These people are not usually part of the "Deaf Culture" as it were. These are medical issues that have caused their lack of hearing over a period of time.
To be culturally Deaf means you were probably young when you became Deaf or you were born Deaf.
Most Deaf were not born that way. Deafness, in large percentages occurs after birth. Sometimes due to injury, sometimes due to illness.
So that burning question that is just waiting to be asked..
"How Many Deaf Are There In America?"
The best rule of thumb one can probably follow would be 1 in 1,000 people are Deaf.
Other Facts about Deaf.
Did you know that the Deaf cannot hear themselves breath????
Did you know that Deaf can talk through glass, across the room, and with their mouth full. All at once.?
Did you know that the Deaf can talk?
The language breaks the barriers that are so solid between hearing and deafness. All a hearing person has to do is learn a few phrases to bring a smile to a Deaf person.
When meeting up with a Deaf person at the store, I will always introduce myself in the middle of their shopping, chat for a moment. I have never had one deaf person ever give me the cold shoulder because I said "hi" in their language. Deaf are always accepting of anyone outside their silent world, taking a step inside.
Welcoming the hearing into their world is a treat. Consider learning some sign language by taking a beginners class at your local city college.
It's a bit of work, but the rewards are lasting.