Deaf culture

People who are deaf or hard of hearing since childhood, experienced in the mainstream society of the hearing by the lack of communication basis often equivalent definition, isolation, and thus a variety of rollbacks.

As a result, deaf or " deaf " people prefer very often being together with other persons who are " deaf " are. The case developed social activities stand out in the form and direction partially strongly on the culture of the majority society and must be considered as a distinct culture of the Deaf. This typically has with the cultural activities of the deaf in other countries have more in common than with the culture of the national societies of the majority " hear".

Language

The most essential feature of the deaf culture in many countries is the sign language. Their research mainly since 1960 by William Stokoe in the U.S. ( and in Germany since 1982 by Siegmund Prillwitz etc.) provided scientific evidence about the status and importance of sign language. This promoted since the 1980s increasingly also the perception of separate Deaf culture as such. In more recent time comes for the use of sign language accompanying added that increased study due to their promotion and the sign language interpreter training also deaf in colleges and universities and acquire advanced knowledge and professional skills.

Sports

A high priority has in deaf culture of sport. Here, associations have been established, whose members are all deaf or hard of hearing with a few exceptions. Thanks to our own common basis for communication with sign language can be used both in training and competition knowledge of the relationships and complete example tactical signals convey more quickly. So own clubs have internationally in many countries in the larger cities and in numerous sports formed, sometimes there " listening" as a separate department within an association.

At the local level participation in external sports competitions and games are mainly situated by equivalent participation in the local league competitions of "listening " teams. This participation is in addition to the internal association training especially the maintenance and further development of sports skills and tactics.

Far more important in contrast, have more seasonal events in the national and international deaf sports federations, each with its own national and international championships. So in addition to the annual championships of the national deaf sports federations, the world's advertised Deaflympics and Deaf - world games are regularly held one year after the Olympic Games. The Deaflympics are like the Paralympics one by the IOC recognized Federation.

Fine Arts

Also in the fine arts to their own structures have formed, such as the sign language theater and the cultural days of the Deaf. In the visual arts deaf artists have formed a special art direction, the themes from the Deaf Experience treated with passion for bright and contrasting colors, in the United States known as the Deaf View Image Art ( Devia ). A special attraction are the sign language festivals, for example in Germany, with competitions in sign language telling and poetry for the trophy " Golden Hand ".

Media

Since the 19th century there are magazines that specifically refer to the group of deaf people. They are mostly of deaf font managers such as edited, edited by Frederick Waldow German Deaf newspaper or the lifestyle magazine "Life InSight " which contain the specific political, social and cultural news, information and well as event information. With the advent of internet and group-specific magazines and discussion forums have been created where exchanged messages and communication are operated under deaf people, such as the built-up of the self hearing impaired teacher Bernd Rehling website " Taubenschlag.de ".

Music

Also music is part of everyday life of deaf people. It is perceived not only by occasionally reinforced with hearing aids tones, but also by vibration, especially of bass. Especially in nightclubs, in which played lots of bass and thus vibrations are triggered, the deaf can perform very well and dance. Known even deaf performers are here, for example, Tobias Kramer and percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

However, there is not only sensible music for the deaf. Sign language also knows the singing in sign. This is also different from the everyday use of sign language, as there are in phonetic languages ​​both colloquial, as well as a lyrical language.

Education and professional qualifications

With the advent of high-school and high-school branches at schools for the deaf, as well as job-related educational institutions such as the IBAF - deaf college or the Rhenish- Westphalian Berufskolleg eating the opportunities for professional qualifications more work fields could be greatly expanded, so that for deaf people increasingly have become accessible.

Religion

Christianity

There are specifically geared for sign language users ecclesiastical deals that are worn by deaf people partially self. In German-speaking countries there are Catholic and Protestant churches for deaf members. Jehovah's Some Free Churches or the witnesses also deals in sign language.

As in other areas of the Deaf being an emancipation took place in the area kirlichen end of the 20th century and created by deaf people themselves worn Christian Deaf Communities. Another consequence of this emancipation was that many country churches or the Jehovah's Witnesses have offered more freedom in their programs to the deaf and could take over management functions.

Listening Descendants

An important part of Deaf culture are their most hearing children who remain the Community often connected life. They have their own associations and are internationally known by the acronym CODA - known - Children of Deaf Adults.

Deafhood or numbness

" Deafhood " ( German " numbness ") is a British scientist by the deaf Patrick ( Paddy ) Ladd developed around 2003 concept. He is the negative concept of deafness ( deafness ) oppose a positive concept. Numbness is not understood as a deficit but as a way of life, comparable to womanhood, Christian or Jewishness. Ladd considers the deaf not as disabled, but as members of a cultural group, without which the world would be poorer in diversity. He asks the deaf to become aware of their shared values ​​and their history and aware of their children (if they are deaf) to educate proudly members of their community. Numbness should be celebrated as a way of life. From these considerations Ladd also directs from his controversial demand to waive the provision in deaf children with cochlear implants. Also controversial is Ladd's positive assessment of deaf designer babies who are begotten by the deliberate selection of a deaf sperm donor.

Ladd speaks of the " colonization " of the deaf by the hearing. It is true, the approach as helpless, passive victims to resist and to fight back against the colonization. Hearing could be allies in this process ( " Allies ") of pigeons when they learned not to be regarded as numbness disability.