Deaf culture

Deaf Culture

Deaf culture (/dɛf/ /ˈkʌltʃər/) is a social, communal, and creative force of, by, and for Deaf people based on American Sign Language (ASL). It encompasses communication, social protocol, art, literature, and more.

Etymology

The term "Deaf culture" is derived from the capitalization of the 'd' in 'deaf' to signify its cultural context, and 'culture' from the Latin 'cultura' meaning 'to cultivate'.

Definition

Deaf culture is a set of learned behaviors and perceptions that shape the values and norms of deaf people based on their shared or common experiences. It is not connected by the absence of sound, but by the use of American Sign Language, a visual language that serves as the cornerstone of Deaf culture.

Characteristics

Deaf culture is characterized by the use of ASL, the value placed on information sharing, and a common understanding of what it means to be an individual who is deaf. It also includes a set of social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values, and shared institutions of communities that are influenced by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication.

Related Terms

American Sign Language: A complete, complex language that employs signs made with the hands and other movements, including facial expressions and postures of the body.
Deaf Community: A term used to describe people who communicate with each other using sign language, share a cultural identity (through shared experiences), and are involved with each other in a social and cultural sense.
Deafhood: A term coined by Paddy Ladd in his book Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood. It refers to the experience of being deaf in a hearing world, encompassing both the joys and struggles that come with it.