Culture is a natural progress when people who share similar identities and experiences come together. It develops around people's identity and take form in various ways such as beliefs, arts, music, religions, customs, languages, way of life, etc.
Deaf culture is the heart of Deaf community everywhere in the world. Language and culture are inseparable. They are intertwined and passed down through generations of Deaf people. Deaf culture exist because Deaf people who are educated at residential Deaf schools develop their own Deaf network once they graduate to keep in touch with everyone. Most of them go on to take on leadership positions in the Deaf community, organise Deaf sport, community events, etc and become the core of the Deaf community. They ensure that their language and heritage are passed to other peers and to the next generation. They also form links with parents and siblings of Deaf children to strengthen and enlarge the community circle for the Deaf children.
Culture consist of language, values, norms, traditions and identity. Language refers to the native visual cultural language of Deaf people, with its own grammar or form, vocabulary and social rules of use. It is highly valued by the Deaf community because it's visually accessible. Language and culture are interrelated. Sign language is crucial to any Deaf people. Values in the Deaf community include the importance of clear communication for all both in terms of expression and comprehension. Deaf residential schools and Deaf clubs are important because of the natural social interaction they offer. Preserving the heritage, Deaf literature and art are examples of some of the values. Traditions include the stories kept alive through Deaf generations, Deaf experiences and expected participation in Deaf cultural events. Norms refer to rules of behaviour in the deaf community. All cultures have their own set of behaviours that are considered acceptable. For Deaf people, it includes getting someone's attention appropriately, using direct eye contact and correct use of shoulder tapping. Norms of behaviour often cause cross-cultural conflicts between Deaf and hearing people when the individuals are unaware of how their norms may be affecting their interactions and perceptions of each other's intentions. Identity is one of the key components of the whole person. Accepting that one is Deaf and is proud of his/her culture and heritage and a contributing member of that society is key to being a member of the cultural group.
Deaf and deaf
Deaf (with an uppercase "D") identifies a particular group of Deaf people who share a common beliefs and values and who appreciate their history, language and cultures. Deafness represents part of their identity and they are proud of who they are.
deaf (with a lowercase "d") refers to the medical condition of being deaf.
Deaf people are normally proud of being called Deaf. It is more offensive to call them a hearing-impaired individual.
Values and Beliefs
Name Sign
A name sign can be anything that describes you as a person, your physical appearance, personality, initials or other nicknames. It can take a very long time for a deaf person to get their name sign. They have to be in the community for quite a long time and being accepted in the community before obtaining their name sign. This name sign then will become part of who they are and part of their identity. In the olden days, deaf people used to be identified with a number according to their locker number because most of them attended a boarding school for the Deaf. However, name sign does not entirely define one’s life. If a deaf person does not have a name sign, it does not mean that one is less than any other in the community who has a name sign. They are equal regardless of the name sign and have the same right in the community.
Celebration of Deaf babies
For Deaf people, having a deaf baby is a joy of life and is a celebration. They are distress or upset over a Deaf baby. They value their babies whether they are hearing or deaf but to have a deaf baby is like having someone to carry on the tradition, culture, language and history of Deaf community
Deaf heritage ie. stories , history
Deaf community values their heritage and history. Stories about Deaf community in the past or history about how Deaf school was established and sign language were also kept alive through storytelling and events. These stories are past from one generations to the other.
Hearing not restored
Some Deaf people choose not to restore their hearing because deafness is part of their identity and it defines who they are. For most of them, deaf is the way of life and being deaf is not an unfortunate circumstance. They do not see it as a disability and found it offensive to be called “hearing impaired”. They take pride in which they are, value their identity as a deaf person and do not seek for a cure to be different.
Technologies
Both cochlear implants and hearing aids use to cause a great debate within Deaf community. These devices increase awareness/education that makes people think that being Deaf is a disability and is a medical condition that needs to be fixed, which completely opposes Deaf community's values and beliefs that is being Deaf is part of their Identity and is not an illness. Deaf children or people who make use of these technologies used to be alienated within the Deaf community because it seems like they are washing away the part of their identity. However, as time goes on both of these technologies have slowly become a norm within the Deaf society, that it provided more choices for Deaf people to experience both hearing and Deaf cultures.
Deaf culture is the heart of Deaf community everywhere in the world. Language and culture are inseparable. They are intertwined and passed down through generations of Deaf people. Deaf culture exist because Deaf people who are educated at residential Deaf schools develop their own Deaf network once they graduate to keep in touch with everyone. Most of them go on to take on leadership positions in the Deaf community, organise Deaf sport, community events, etc and become the core of the Deaf community. They ensure that their language and heritage are passed to other peers and to the next generation. They also form links with parents and siblings of Deaf children to strengthen and enlarge the community circle for the Deaf children.
Culture consist of language, values, norms, traditions and identity. Language refers to the native visual cultural language of Deaf people, with its own grammar or form, vocabulary and social rules of use. It is highly valued by the Deaf community because it's visually accessible. Language and culture are interrelated. Sign language is crucial to any Deaf people. Values in the Deaf community include the importance of clear communication for all both in terms of expression and comprehension. Deaf residential schools and Deaf clubs are important because of the natural social interaction they offer. Preserving the heritage, Deaf literature and art are examples of some of the values. Traditions include the stories kept alive through Deaf generations, Deaf experiences and expected participation in Deaf cultural events. Norms refer to rules of behaviour in the deaf community. All cultures have their own set of behaviours that are considered acceptable. For Deaf people, it includes getting someone's attention appropriately, using direct eye contact and correct use of shoulder tapping. Norms of behaviour often cause cross-cultural conflicts between Deaf and hearing people when the individuals are unaware of how their norms may be affecting their interactions and perceptions of each other's intentions. Identity is one of the key components of the whole person. Accepting that one is Deaf and is proud of his/her culture and heritage and a contributing member of that society is key to being a member of the cultural group.
Deaf and deaf
Deaf (with an uppercase "D") identifies a particular group of Deaf people who share a common beliefs and values and who appreciate their history, language and cultures. Deafness represents part of their identity and they are proud of who they are.
deaf (with a lowercase "d") refers to the medical condition of being deaf.
Deaf people are normally proud of being called Deaf. It is more offensive to call them a hearing-impaired individual.
Values and Beliefs
Name Sign
A name sign can be anything that describes you as a person, your physical appearance, personality, initials or other nicknames. It can take a very long time for a deaf person to get their name sign. They have to be in the community for quite a long time and being accepted in the community before obtaining their name sign. This name sign then will become part of who they are and part of their identity. In the olden days, deaf people used to be identified with a number according to their locker number because most of them attended a boarding school for the Deaf. However, name sign does not entirely define one’s life. If a deaf person does not have a name sign, it does not mean that one is less than any other in the community who has a name sign. They are equal regardless of the name sign and have the same right in the community.
Celebration of Deaf babies
For Deaf people, having a deaf baby is a joy of life and is a celebration. They are distress or upset over a Deaf baby. They value their babies whether they are hearing or deaf but to have a deaf baby is like having someone to carry on the tradition, culture, language and history of Deaf community
Deaf heritage ie. stories , history
Deaf community values their heritage and history. Stories about Deaf community in the past or history about how Deaf school was established and sign language were also kept alive through storytelling and events. These stories are past from one generations to the other.
Hearing not restored
Some Deaf people choose not to restore their hearing because deafness is part of their identity and it defines who they are. For most of them, deaf is the way of life and being deaf is not an unfortunate circumstance. They do not see it as a disability and found it offensive to be called “hearing impaired”. They take pride in which they are, value their identity as a deaf person and do not seek for a cure to be different.
Technologies
Both cochlear implants and hearing aids use to cause a great debate within Deaf community. These devices increase awareness/education that makes people think that being Deaf is a disability and is a medical condition that needs to be fixed, which completely opposes Deaf community's values and beliefs that is being Deaf is part of their Identity and is not an illness. Deaf children or people who make use of these technologies used to be alienated within the Deaf community because it seems like they are washing away the part of their identity. However, as time goes on both of these technologies have slowly become a norm within the Deaf society, that it provided more choices for Deaf people to experience both hearing and Deaf cultures.
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