Capitalization Of The Word Deaf
Occasionally in writing, the word “deaf” is capitalized, and other times it is not. Why is this? It is because with the capitalization of the word “deaf” the meaning changes greatly. The definition of the term “deaf”, when written with a lowercase d, “refers to a physical condition characterized by a relative lack of auditory sensitivity to sound” (Flaskerud 317). To put it plainly, it is a way to describe an individual’s acute lack of hearing abilities. Capital “D” Deaf, on the other hand, is associated with deaf individuals who embrace the Deaf Culture, their beliefs and their values. In addition, Deaf individuals have a “strong deaf identity” (Burke), and they accept the fact that they are deaf and do not see their lack of hearing as a disability,
but rather use “positive paradigm when evaluation deafness, asserting that something has been gained” (““Deaf” vs. “deaf” – What's The Difference?”). Though, the fact that someone is deaf does not necessarily mean that they are Deaf and a part of the Deaf community.
There are numerous people who identify with the Deaf community; many of these individuals have been deaf since birth and/or have been immersed in the Deaf culture and community from a young age. They are proud to be deaf and genuinely identify with the Deaf community. Although, there are some individuals who, at an older age may lose the majority, if not all of their hearing, and do not feel that they identify with the Deaf World, but rather feel isolated from it. This also may apply to a deaf child born to hearing parents or to deaf children who have hearing families that have raised them to live in the hearing world and identify with the hearing. While in most cases, the individuals who are culturally Deaf are deaf; this is not always the case. Hearing individuals can associate as culturally Deaf. William Vicar explains that “[h]earing family members, friends, interpreters, and others are also part of this [the Deaf] community to the extent that they use sign language and share in the culture.”
but rather use “positive paradigm when evaluation deafness, asserting that something has been gained” (““Deaf” vs. “deaf” – What's The Difference?”). Though, the fact that someone is deaf does not necessarily mean that they are Deaf and a part of the Deaf community.
There are numerous people who identify with the Deaf community; many of these individuals have been deaf since birth and/or have been immersed in the Deaf culture and community from a young age. They are proud to be deaf and genuinely identify with the Deaf community. Although, there are some individuals who, at an older age may lose the majority, if not all of their hearing, and do not feel that they identify with the Deaf World, but rather feel isolated from it. This also may apply to a deaf child born to hearing parents or to deaf children who have hearing families that have raised them to live in the hearing world and identify with the hearing. While in most cases, the individuals who are culturally Deaf are deaf; this is not always the case. Hearing individuals can associate as culturally Deaf. William Vicar explains that “[h]earing family members, friends, interpreters, and others are also part of this [the Deaf] community to the extent that they use sign language and share in the culture.”