Essay Sample on Perspectives in Deaf Culture

Deafness is an illness characterized by the inability to hear sounds. When a person develops this problem, they can either hear sounds to a varying degree or suffer from total deafness. It is a condition that makes it challenging for people to hear, decipher, or understand human verbal speech. Since the ears cannot pick up and transmit sound, the person relies on alternative means of communication. Hearing loss occurs due to various issues such as tear and wear caused by old age, frequent exposure to high and loud noises, and injuries to the ear. It is a condition that causes inconvenience to the Deaf, given that many people do not know sign language. It makes communication difficult. Given the challenges that the Deaf community faces, it is essential to explore sentiments about Deaf culture.

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The article "The Importance of Deaf Culture" is insightful. In class, I learned about the Deaf culture and how it differs from that of other groups in society. The author reiterates that members of the Deaf community rely on a different language to communicate with one another. The use of the American Sign Language (ASL) is a symbol of identity among the Deaf. It creates a sense of belonging and unity amongst themselves since they can relate to each other's situation. Due to hearing complications, Deaf people have endured stigmatization and discrimination from those who can hear. The larger society perceives the Deaf as different and less abled (Clason, 2019). Due to the stigma and misinformed perception of Deaf people, they oppose attempts such as cochlear surgery to correct their hearing issues. Thus, they question the fairness in prioritizing spoken word over sign language.

While reading the post, I gained a deeper understanding of the subculture of Deaf people. For them, sign language is a medium that makes it possible for the Deaf to have rich and meaningful communication like other people in society. Sign language is the primary means of communication that is accessible to the Deaf. Therefore, they perceive it as a scared tool that unites them. It is a key to a linguistic subculture that determines who gets the privilege of engaging with members of the Deaf community (Clason, 2019). The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) emphasizes that there is a difference in sign language used across different countries in the world. NAD terms the ASL as a backbone for the community that is equally complex as the spoken word (Clason, 2019). Thus, it is a culture and an ecosystem of its kind.

The article is informative. The author makes a point of enlightening the reader about a community that the rest of the population ignores. It succeeds in capturing essential details about the Deaf community and communicates their feelings without bias. By beginning the post with the concern about the stigma that Deaf people endure in society, the author captures the readers' attention. She addresses the plight of the Deaf without portraying them as needy or as a burden to society (Clason, 2019). The interpretation is that people need to treat and handle the Deaf with dignity and respect. Therefore, the report underscores that Deaf people are a unique group with an equally sophisticated culture.

I chose the article based on the title. I was curious to find out more about Deaf people and how they operate in an individualistic society. When I stumbled on the article, I was eager to examine how the author discusses the idea that Deaf people have their culture that is inaccessible to those who cannot sign. The most impressive idea gained from the reading is that the ASL is not just a combination of hand gestures and the English language (Clason, 2019). Rather, it is a culture. It is a system. ASL also has rules about word order, grammar, and rhythm. The least impressive aspect of the article is that some people oppose safe methods such as surgery and implants that can help children with hearing and speech development.

I would recommend someone to read the article as it offers a detailed yet straightforward discussion about the Deaf community. The author does not use complicated terms about hearing loss conditions to complicate the post. A person can read through the article and understand the arguments made. By using subtitles to divide the information, the author ensures that the reader can approach the story systematically as it develops. Thus, the presentation is clear and easy to follow the writer's sentiments. The ideas expressed are also worth reading since they offer a new perspective on the lives of the Deaf. Thus, the article is worth reading since it reveals what the Deaf think of their culture and language.

Overall, the Deaf community differs from other people based on their use of sign language to communicate. Deaf people have hearing complications that make it challenging to detect sound. Since they cannot hear, they rely on signing to receive and convey information. Sign language becomes a scared tool that unites the Deaf community. It is a communication device that admits a person into the group. Only those who know, use, and understand sign language get the privilege to engage with the Deaf community. Sign language is at the center of the Deaf culture. Therefore, the Deaf culture represents a vital and complex system that exists in the Deaf community.

References

Clason, D. (2019). The importance of Deaf culture. Retrieved 10 April 2020, from https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52285-The-importance-of-deaf-culture