I can say that most of us ask ourselves questions like ‘Can I explain myself or understand them correctly?’ when we meetpeople who are deaf, have become deaf later in life, or arehard of hearing. The reason for being inconvenienced withthem is that deaf people use their own language to talk witheach other [1]. In history, deaf people wanted to adapt tospoken language rather than sign language. In some papersthere is written that hearing people have used force to teachthem spoken language by tying their hands so as not to usetheir hands to communicate[2].
This writing aims to give brief information about the cultureof deaf people, the history of sign language, and thetechnologies in the lives of deaf people.
Dimensions of the deaf culture
Individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) tocommunicate consider themselves members of Deaf culture. A difference exists between hearing loss and people who areborn deaf. ‘Hearing loss’ or ‘deafened’ people usually tend not to be members of the deaf community; they prefer to use lip-read or normal language instead of using sign language [1].
The deaf community can accept family members andinterpreters who identify themselves as member of thiscommunity. They believe that it is not the condition of not hearing that identifies members of the deaf community but individuals’ own sense and resultant actions.
The deaf community is inclusive of family members andinterpreters who actively set up their own rules. And deafnessis celebrated as a unique human experience rather than a disease that needs a “cure”. They believe that deaf peoplecommunicate more than normal people (hearing). And in thiscommunication eye contact is important [1].
Aquisitıon of the language
Charles-Michel, abbé de l’Epée, a French educator, developed a manual system for using French words, expressing everything using hands to make signs [3].Thislineage expanded to the United states in 1816 throughThomasGallaudet,the founder of the American School for theDeaf [4].
Like spoken languages s,ign languages also differ from placeto place. With over 200 distinc versions existing globally.However, due to their origins, FSL and ASL are related [5].
Technologies in the life of deaf people
Ultimately, technology provide tools to help, but not a cure forthe culture. As society become more conscious of thesechallenges , a better world can be designed for everyone– notjust the hearing majority [8].
References
