The World of the Deaf
Deaf Culture Series:
Part I
Beth Carlson, Ph.D.,
Communications/Sign
Language Interpreting
Program, Saint Petersburg
College
Video Preview Questions:
1) What do you think it would be like to
be a deaf person? What would be
different and what would be the
same relative to hearing status?
2) What would you find to be the most
challenging aspects about be deaf?
Why?
Video Preview Questions:
3) What assumptions do you have
about deaf people and how they
function within a hearing world?
4) What are some venues in everyday
life that might be considered
discriminatory to a deaf person?
Beth Carlson, Ph.D.,
Communications/Sign Language
Interpreting Program, Saint
Petersburg College
Video Preview Questions:
5) When deaf parents have deaf
children, how do you think they feel
compared to when hearing parents
have deaf children? Why?
6) How do you think a deaf person
feels when asked if he or she can
lip–read? What problems might
they experience if they say that they
can lip-read?
Video Preview Questions:
7) Many deaf children are sent to
residential schools for their
education. What are the benefits
and drawbacks of such a setting for
a young deaf child?
8) Early speech training is typical in the
life of a young deaf child. How do
you think speech training impacts
the deaf child as an individual?
Video Preview Questions:
9) Why might deaf individuals choose
not to use their voice when
communicating with hearing
people?
10) Compare and contrast human
values of the deaf to those of the
hearing.
The World of the Deaf Part I
Click on the following picture to
access the link to the video
Beth Carlson, Ph.D.,
Communications/Sign Language
Interpreting Program, Saint
Petersburg College
Post Viewing Questions
1) What assumptions did you verify or
disprove? Why?
2) What alternative assumptions were
offered in this video?
3) How will your assumptions change
as a result of viewing this video?
Tips on Terms ~ Stereotypes
Appropriate
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Deaf
Hard of Hearing
Late-Deafened
Person with a
hearing loss
Inappropriate/
Borderline
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Deaf & Dumb
Deaf Mute
Hearing Impaired
*implies without
culture
Two Perspectives on Deaf People
Cultural Model
Deaf Persons Can!
Pathological Model
Deaf Persons Can’t!
No difference
Inferior
Abilities
Unlimited
Limited
Language
ASL
Culture
Deaf Culture
Deprived
Communication
Different
Disordered
Reasoning
Full Range
Intelligence
Speech/Lang Delay
Lack Abstractions
Barbara Kannapell, Lecture Notes
1987
Membership in the Deaf Community
Audiological
Political
Individualistic
Core
Deaf
Linguistic
Social
Collectivist
The Deaf Culture Encompasses
Language:
•
ASL/English Intercultural
Communication
Nonverbal Behavior:
•
Body Language/
Eye Contact
Values:
•
Socializing: Cherished
Pastime
•
Traditions: Jokes, Stories,
Deaf Folklore
Beth Carlson, Ph.D.,
Communications/Sign Language
Interpreting Program, Saint
Petersburg College
Cultural Misunderstandings Between
Deaf and Hearing
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Eye Contact
Nose wrinkling (+/-)
Nodding (understanding/go-ahead/yes)
Negation headshake (impressive vs. bad)
Size of movement (e.g. very slow/hit
hard)
Touching (urgent vs. non urgent and
familiar vs. not familiar)
Backchannel feedback
Tone (direct vs. indirect)
Developing Effective Intercultural
Interaction
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Communicate Respect
Be Nonjudgmental
Personalize One’s Knowledge and
Perceptions
Display Empathy
Take Turns
Be tolerant
of Ambiguity
Beth Carlson, Ph.D.,
Communications/Sign Language
Interpreting Program, Saint
Petersburg College