Date:
February 28, 2010
To:
Professor T. Johnston
From: Eric Zimmerman
Subject: Reflections #1
Brave New DEAF-WORLD
Prior to reading the first three chapters of A Journey into the DEAF-WORLD, I was not
quite sure what to expect. After finishing the first chapter, I began to think that the entire book
would be filled with anecdotal stories similar to that in chapter one. However, it became
immediately apparent, after finishing chapters two and three, that this was not the case. Instead,
the first chapter simply served as an introduction to the DEAF-WORLD, and therefore to the rest
of the book (or at least to part one). Chapters two and three, on the other hand, discussed more
objectively issues concerning family and language, respectively, associated with the
DEAF-WORLD. Nevertheless, each chapter divulged a fair amount of rather engaging
information, some of which has previously been discussed in our COM 114 class, and other
pieces previously unbeknownst to me.
Chapter one, titled “Welcome to the DEAF-WORLD,” was perhaps the most
reader-friendly and yet the trickiest to learn from. In other words, the story-type format of
chapter one made it much easier to read and feel involved in the text than did the
data/research-result-type format of chapters two and three, and yet chapters two and three
directly lay out regurgitate-able information whereas chapter one requires some individual
interpretation and analysis on the part of the reader. The authors often do, however, refer back
to the story in chapter one and use pieces of it to explain its relativity to the DEAF-WORLD,
thereby belatedly analyzing the story. But I digress, for I do not intend to summarize, but to
reflect on that which I read. Firstly, I rather enjoyed the way the book started, with an
introduction of the authors and an explanation of the commonality of such a practice in the
DEAF-WORLD. Although this had already been discussed in our classroom, I felt that it was still
a good refresher. Secondly, I was particularly interested in the moment in which Gloria
accidentally used the term “hearing-impaired,” followed by the line: “Their eyes met, and for a
moment Jake held her gaze, as if trying to see into her mind”(13). Although seemingly trivial, it
spoke to me as a reflection of the visual dominance in the DEAF-WORLD, of not relying on sound
to communicate but on sight, and of the difficulties hearing and Deaf people often face when
communicating with one another (i.e. resulting in an attempt to read minds).
Chapter two, titled “Families with Deaf Children,” was broken up into two headings,
“The Birth of a Deaf Baby to Deaf Parents” and “A Deaf Child Born to Hearing Parents.”
Something I found interesting under the first heading was about a Deaf parent beginning to teach
their Deaf child to sign, saying, “They place the baby on their lap with the baby’s back touching
their chest and read, using signs that, when they touch the body, touch the baby’s body rather
than their own”(27). It seems so simple and yet ultimately clever as well, internalizing the signs
for the baby and giving them some proper perspective. As for the second heading, it was more
appalling than impressive. I was particularly disgusted when I read, “Some physicians even
inform parents and other medical professionals that the opinions and experiences of Deaf adults
have no bearing on how to raise and ‘manage’ their Deaf child”(36). I couldn’t, and still can’t
believe the ignorance stated here, and these aren’t just average people mind you; these are
physicians…self-proclaimed professionals!
Lastly, Chapter three, titled “The Language of the DEAF-WORLD,” was the lengthiest yet,
covering the acquisition of ASL, its history, diversity and cultural roles. It’s a disappointment
to realize the recurrence of discrimination and attempted “normalization” of minorities
throughout human history, and yet I am now aware of another example to add to our collective
repertoire: The Congress of Milan.
One final note that I would like to touch on is in regards
to the cultural customs of Deaf languages. I was intrigued by the concepts of both frank talk
and name signs. Personally, I rather admire the value that is placed on frank talk in the
DEAF-WORLD, as opposed to hearing culture where explicitness is frowned upon. Also, the
idea of name signs in place of finger-spelled names further caught my attention, which brings me
to a series of related questions I would like to end with: Do you, Professor Johnston, have a
name sign? Is it rude of me to ask what your name sign is? Is the use of name signs typically
reserved for friends and relatives? Or are name signs fairly open to all who are aware of its
denomination?