Deaf Culture is important because it allows deaf individuals to be who they are. There's more to a person than whether or not they can hear, so don't just focus on their ears. Deaf Culture is the heart of Deaf communities everywhere in the world. They take pride in their Deaf identity. They are seen as a minority group. Language and Culture are inseparable. The Deaf Culture doesn’t believe in using the word “disabled” because the word implies “less than”- as though they are lacking something. By removing the label, they are also removing any stigma that might be attached.
In Deaf Culture you see the world in a different way. Deaf people communicate differently. The Deaf seek out who is Deaf in a room or at a party because they relate effortlessly and understand each other. The Deaf don't believe they have a disability - and Deaf does not want to be fixed. They are a human too.
I am aware that there is a huge argument in the middle of certain factions of the Deaf community that relate to Cochlear Implants. I am very comfortable with the choices I made. However, some Deaf people don’t accept Cochlear Implants at all and I feel that if they’re happy being deaf, that’s great. That’s their decision. I like being able to hear what’s going on around me and understand the hearing world.
Some members of the Deaf community are against Cochlear Implants. They believe every person deserves the right to choose for themselves whether they want to remain Deaf and encourage parents to be teaching Sign Language as the baby’s first language. Some activists believe learning language and cognitive development through Sign Language is a basic human right that should be protected and that by choosing Cochlear Implants, the family will be guided away from learning Sign Language and embrace Deaf Culture.
Nine out of 10 Deaf babies are born to hearing parents. Many of those parents choose Cochlear Implants because it helps their child with speech development.
I was born profoundly deaf and since a baby, I was wearing Swiss Phonak Hearing aids. I made the toughest choices around Cochlear Implants and wasn’t always keen on that idea. So I chose to have a Cochlear Implant at age 17. Today, I have a Bi-Lateral Cochlear Implants and it was the best decision I ever made.
Here I am going to share a few more about what you can experience in Deaf Culture.
Long Introduction
When it comes to meeting new people, hearing people would say, "Hi, this is my friend Marisa", just a short introduction. When it comes to deaf people, they would explain the whole story of this person like "Remember I told you about my deaf friend who won Miss Deaf South Africa and she is also a former dancer and a Pilates Instructor who knows your mutual friends......" and so on.
Overstaying/Long Goodbye
This is the funniest and most hilarious in our Deaf Culture: Our good-byes take nearly forever. Every single time, if we want to leave even if we already said goodbye to our Deaf friends, it would end up one-hour extra overstay, before we get in the car. At the restaurant when it is over closed time with my Deaf friends, we will be the last people to leave the restaurant.
Subtitles
Subtitles are important to Deaf people for movies, TV series, and news. We cannot follow TV without subtitles. When there are no subtitles Deaf people would ask their family or hearing friends "What are they saying". I love Cinemas but unfortunately, there are no subtitles, instead, I rather wait for the movie to come out in Netflix or downloading from the Internet.
The interpreter is also very important in Deaf Culture at any live show. In South Africa, we only have live Interpreters on News. We might be the only country in the world that shows a live Interpreter in News while others in the USA and Europe have live subtitles. Always make sure if there are subtitles for your deaf friend.
Visual/Vibrating Alarm Systems vs Sounds Alarm Systems
We do have vibrating alarm systems to wake us up in the morning and visual alarm systems for doorbells and alarms for fire and intruders. We are very sensitive to feelings and lights. Some Deaf can sleep with the light on while others cannot. I have to sleep in a pitch-black room. If there is any light that bothers me I won't be able to have a good night's sleep. For Deaf parents, there is a special visual/vibrating alarm system for the baby. When the baby cries', the alarm will go off.
A friend has a special vibrating alarm for her bed and once when a hearing friend comes over and slept over. She got a huge fright in the morning when her friend's bed was shaking so hard as if there is an earthquake. It nearly gave her friend a heart- attack. It is hilarious!
Deaf Accents
Most of my time when I go to a restaurant and I want to order a drink and food. The waiter always asked me "Where do you come from?'' I said, "I am from Cape Town". The waiter replied "No, it is impossible, you don't sound from Cape Town. You sound like from France or Russia". I laughed and then I spoke in my original Afrikaans language to show the proof that I am a South African. I explained to the waiter that I am deaf and this is my accent. It is still hard for us to pronounce "S" words like my name Marisa. Hearing people would hear "Marita". when asked what is my name. It is so annoying for me because I tried so many times how to pronounce my name better or I will say there is something wrong with your ears ;).
Deaf Culture is a beautiful culture to experience and to the Deaf Sign Language as an equal to spoken language. I hope this blog helps you understand the secret undercover of Deaf Culture :)
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