Humor And Stereotypes Faced By Deaf People

A huge giant is stalking through a small village of wee people, who are scattering through the streets trying to escape the ugly creature. The giant notices one particularly beautiful blonde woman scampering down the cobble-stoned street. He stretches out his clumsy arm and sweeps her up, then stress in wonder at the slight, shivering figure in his palm. “You are so beautiful,” he exclaims. The young woman looks up in fear. “I would never hurt you,” he signs, “I love you! We should get MARRIED.”… (Bienvenu, 1989).
This joke’s punchline, considered as humorous by Deaf people, is hard for people who do not know sign language to understand as it is based off of a particular sign. The fact that the joke is not understood by all can put sign language interpreters in a bind because if they clarify the joke to the audience, they risk ruining it. On the other hand, if they do not explain the joke, the presenter’s message cannot be understood by everyone. A dilemma
like this one illustrates that although humor is found in every culture, it cannot always be easily interpreted to a different culture.
People’s understanding of humor is influenced by factors such as: their
knowledge of the culture and language surrounding the joke, their culture, and their personal experience (Rutherford, 1983). Those differences between the two cultures: Deaf and Hearing will be examined throughout this paper; along with what each culture sees as humorous, how humor is produced, and the aspects of humor. It is essential that interpreters possess the basic knowledge and recognize the difference aspects of humor found in the two cultures in order to reproduce it in a manner that is understandable to either communities.