In this book, Deaf in America, by Carol Padden and Tom Humphries, the two authors wrote stories, jokes, performances, and experiences of Deaf people. They also wrote Deaf culture and Deaf people’s lives from various angles. This book is great navigator of Deaf world for hearing people and even Deaf people as me. There are several factors attracting reader. To begin with, I could learn about backgrounds of deaf people and hearing people. Authors wrote about a Deaf boy who was born into a deaf family. Until he discovered that a girl playmate in neighborhood was “hearing”, he didn’t notice about “Others”. Authors explained, “She was HEARING and because of this did not know how to SIGN; instead she and her mother TALK” (Chapter 1). This story strongly impressed me. I was born into a Deaf family too, but I grew up with hearing grandparents. In my childhood, I did intensive oral training with my grandparents. So, I can sign JSL and talk Japanese smoothly. Therefore I never felt emotion like this occasion, “Others” to hearing people. The next factor is difference of “Deaf” and “deaf”. For example, the capitalized “Deaf” people are not only “deaf” but also user of Sign Language. I haven’t known the meaning of “Deaf” and “deaf” exactly before, thanks to this book, now I can understand. When I analyzed myself, I identified as “Deaf” because I truly cherish Sign Language. In addition, Sign Language is explained as a primary mode of communication for Deaf people including me. It has full access to communication for us. Unfortunately, some hearing people misunderstand that Sign Language is a kind of gestural communication. Authors wrote about it, “ASL are often thought to be direct representations of spoken words” (Chapter 3). In my country, Japan, there are some misconceptions about JSL too. Sign Language has both iconic and abstract concept.…
It was interesting to hear, and see, what kind of challenges that deaf people faced. One of the people I found interesting was. A hearing French professor had brought the language from France and that was how it signing had started. I thought that was interesting, because not only was it a long time to create a form of communication for the deaf community; they were also mistreated for their inability to communicate with the rest of the world. Another person that I found interesting, was Alexander Gram Bell, had a wife and mother, who were deaf. On top of that, it was startling at first, to hear that the deaf community treated him as a sort of “boogeyman.” I found it fascinating that he is well known in a hearing class for inventing the telephone, but in the deaf class, he is known for starting the Oralism form of communication in the deaf community. Along with that, Bell fought against having sign language being taught, because he felt that it was a “borrowed language.” Instead he wanted the people community to learn to speak and read lips. It was interesting to hear, because I assumed that most people who were deaf just learned sign language for their communication.…
This book, featuring more than 200 photographs, depicts the lives and experiences of Deaf people under the influence of American norms, values, and perceptions during different historical periods. Segregation existed in America, and different groups, particularly women and people of color, were denied equal rights. Deaf people also did not cross racial and gender lines for much of our history. As stated by the authors, the Deaf community did not exist in a vacuum, and our views were identical to those of the larger society.…
"Through Deaf Eyes," a two-hour HDTV documentary for PBS, explores nearly 200 years of Deaf life in America. The film presents the shared experiences of American history - family life, education, work, and community connections - from the perspective of deaf citizens. Narrated by actor Stockard Channing, the film includes interviews with former Gallaudet University president, Dr. I. King Jordan, and actors Marlee Matlin and Bernard Bragg, as well as historians and deaf Americans with diverse views on language use, technology and identity. The film presents the story of Deaf life in America - a story of conflicts, prejudice and affirmation that reaches the heart of what it means to be human. "Through Deaf Eyes" will be broadcast on Wednesday,…
While viewing "In the Land of the Deaf" it help me seeing how hard of hearing kids figure out how to hear by utilizing Hearing aids. Its overview differentiating the stories of a family who has been hard of hearing and with the narrative of a lady whose deafness was misconstrued. The film shows Deaf individuals of all ages, children to grown-ups. With their similar deafness, the kids and grown-ups in this film communicate their dreams, thoughts and ideas through sign language which is used for them to communicate. While watching “See What I mean: Differences Between Deaf and Hearing Cultures” it help me comprehend and accomplish a more better understanding of culturally diverse point of view and valuation for Deaf and listening to societies…
Educational systems rarely stress the importance of training the ability of enlightening individual complications like nutrition, though less has been done to challenge the minorities and the disabled. Thanks to the works of Humphries and Padden, they stressed out to emphasize the cultural uniqueness of the deaf subculture in the American system. Humphries and Padden drew on their individual experiences as being deaf to illuminate the culture and life of deaf Americans, myths, and their everyday life (Armstrong, 2005). The essay centers on the authors' articulation in the book "the deaf in American voices" to explore the authors' biases. It focuses on how people can be deaf and not deaf as well as the essence of the deaf community in making…
Ryan Commerson, producer and host of the movie “Media, Power & Ideology: Re-Presenting D-E-A-D”, states that all the preconceptions societies have about people being born deaf is because of “ideology”. He uses Valentin Voloshinov’s definition of the word to later explore its significance in more depth. Ideology: “The dimension of social experience in which meanings and values are produced”. Furthermore, he continues exploring the first persons that tried to describe deaf people back in the 18th century. He explains that at first these persons, like author John Conrad Amman, one of the first ones to write about speech and how deaf people could learn how to communicate, had many misinterpretations of how deaf people really is and what are they capable to. Commeron continues saying that even thou they used very degrading terms to describe deaf people they were judging them wrongly since most of deaf people grew up without any education. The fact that all these people wrote about them, Cammeron says, it brings this false ideology to our present.…
Before reading this chapter I thought that was a ridiculous question to ask, “who speaks for the Deaf.” I had naturally assumed that the Deaf would be the main ones who speak for the needs and influence of the Deaf community. However, after reading this chapter I realized that sadly that is not really how it is in practice. This topic, of influence, may seem like a petty aspect at first, but if you consider it, it is really quite important.…
Thomas K. Holcomb’s book, Introduction to American Deaf Culture, shines a light on the deaf community and the culture they experience. The intended audience, however, is the hearing. It gives the reader insight on deaf experiences and how the atmosphere is different, even though the environment is the same. All aspects of culture are covered. The book starts off with how the culture is formed through the 5 hallmarks (p. 17). Next, the book focuses on the identity of a deaf person. This is not only limited to, labeling from the rest of the world, but also by how the person sees himself. After, the book discusses the core values the deaf community has. These values are much different when compared to the hearing community. They focus on the person engaging as a full member of society. This is done through communication, interacting, and having a sense of self-worth in the community (104-107). Eventually, literature and art are mentioned. The classifications are difficult to place. There are American works, but with the growing awareness in the recent year they have earned their own Deaf category. This is important to the deaf community because it allows “Deaf people’s lives to be better…
Some even had the hope of starting their own families in the future (Sutton-Spence). The new schools for the deaf and blind provided so many new chances for these children to grow, develop and feel normal. A current day study revealed that people who are hearing impaired don’t identify themselves, rather, they see themselves as people who see the world visually and use sign language (Sutton-Spence). This can also be assumed about the deaf in the 1800s. Originally there hadn’t been schools for them or ways from them to learn.…
The documentary “For a Deaf Son,” outlines a young boy, Thomas Tranchin, who was born deaf into a hearing family, and the battle his parents underwent to decide to teach Thomas in sign language communication, strictly communicate in English, or both. The documentary is educational for the hearing world to shape their own particular opinions on what type of technique would be better for their child in the event that they were to ever be in a comparative circumstance. As Dr. Carlos Erting expressed in the film, 93% of hearing impaired children have hearing parents; therefore, this documentary gives a glimpse at both perspectives of nonverbal communication and oral communication. However, as I viewed the short film, the clashing feelings of Thomas’…
Many hearing people believe that the deaf experience unnecessary difficulties in life that can be otherwise avoided with the use of a cochlear implant. The deaf are unable to hear the simple sounds in life that we take for granted or cannot speak for easy communication. It is argued that a deaf child will experience severe isolation and must rely on others for various tasks they must complete, which has potential to deplete their independence and self- worth. For example, Peter needs an interpreter at work to communicate with others and to carry out his daily tasks. Surprisingly, he states that he knows he is unlikely to move up in the position due to his deafness. Peter and Chris’s mother, who is hearing, explains the difficulties and obstacles she encountered while raising a deaf child. She fears that her deaf grandchildren will suffer without an implant and will be bullied by others as they grow up. Deaf children, like Heather, are unable to communicate with her hearing friends, which results in a significant amount of frustration and unhappiness. However, the deaf argue that they have established their own way of life and are very happy…
In this movie I learned a lot more about the struggles and breakthroughs of the deaf culture than I already knew. I didn't know nearly as much as I thought I did. I found out that some deaf people were forced into speach therapy because hearing people thought of sign language as a bad thing. I also learned that deaf people don't always choose to sign some choose to read lips. Not all deaf people have kochlear implants and even though some do it doesn't allow them to "hear" everything.…
From the ancient times and even today Deaf education has had arguments against which method is right or wrong. No matter which way the tides turned there have been important people there to help guide the Deaf educations along. We will start with the great philosopher Aristotle. Now I know what you are thinking, why would I talk about Aristotle when it comes to Deaf education?…
Being a deaf is one of the most rare and difficult situation for many people. Many people have not experience being a deaf or even have deaf related or even have a deaf friend and that what makes deaf being ignored by these normal people. Deaf people have created their own community. Living in this community makes their lives a lot easier than lives in our community. I have never ever experience living or having a friend who is a deaf, but knowing about their lives was one of my most wanted things. Watching this documentary about these two families have opened my eyes about who these people could communicate with others. These two families had the same situation with their children but one of them was negative while the other was more open mind.…