I am always surprised when I come across recent news articles and blogs using the term 'deaf and dumb'. I am more surprised at how often it happens. I have assumed that most people, especially journalists and professional writers, would know better than to use 'deaf and dumb'. It perpetuates the myth that most deaf people prefer not to speak, are unable to speak, or are 'mute'. Even though I do not think that 'mute' is the best term, I feel it is better than using an outdated term such as 'dumb'. In addition, 'dumb' is used more frequently today to mean 'stupid' or 'idiotic'.
Here is the recent news article I came across that uses the term 'dumb' in its title. It is from the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog:
Philadelphia Story: How to Prosecute a Deaf, Dumb and Illiterate Man?
What do you think? Is 'deaf and dumb' appropriate? Do you use this term to describe deaf people who don't speak, whether they prefer not to or are unable to? Do you know anyone who uses this term?
(e
Here is the recent news article I came across that uses the term 'dumb' in its title. It is from the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog:
Philadelphia Story: How to Prosecute a Deaf, Dumb and Illiterate Man?
What do you think? Is 'deaf and dumb' appropriate? Do you use this term to describe deaf people who don't speak, whether they prefer not to or are unable to? Do you know anyone who uses this term?
(e
I know of one person who prefers to call herself as DeafMute. http://www.ellasflashlight.com/?p=8 for more information.
ReplyDeleteThe simple fact that i see in many many situations when hearing get used to having deaf around. hearing people tend to 'outhear' each other and when a hearing person fails to outhear another, they call this person dumb. it is norm and common information among hearing people. so when hearing sees deaf miss everytime in outhearing by others, they automatically think this deaf person dumb. so they do thing deaf people are dumb because they cannot outhear hearing people. but they know they cannot say the word 'dumb' because it is not appropriate. in their mind they see deaf person as deaf and dumb.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is because they think deaf people are 'dumb' or stupid, it is because it was once commonly used to describe someone who is mute or unable to speak. 'Deaf and dumb' was commonly used a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteBut, I would think that most people would understand that it is not politically correct or deemed appropriate by most to use this term today.
Au contraïre, a term such as either "dumb" or "mute" is not a dirty word. This term means "silent". The most respected deaf artist in the Spanish royal house was called "Francoiso
ReplyDeleteEl Mudo Goya.
Daddy, who was an international foreign language translator, told me that oralists should be told the truth that they should not speak with their voice in public because their deaf voices are embarrassing -- something that Daddy called "foreign accent syndrome". Some oralists mistakenly think that they sound like foreigners when they are asked if they have a "foreign accent sundrome". Actually, the foreign accent sydrome has absolutely nothing to do with speaking a foreign language; rather, it has to do with something "wrong" with his vocal cords, tonque, proper breathing for IPA, and throat. Oralists should be told the truth not to use their speech in public and that it is "OK" if they use their voice at home or with an audilogist.
I know an oral woman who attended an oral school in Brooklyn. After her graduation, her father who was driven crazy by her voice told her to stay out until 10 PM. She had been seeing my roommate for counselling about her feeling "unwanted" by her parents. My roomate kindly invited the oralist to our house for Thanksgiving, Fifteen minutes after the introduction at the dinner, the roommate's mother and sister were driven crazy by the oralist's voice and told the roommate to send the oralist to the baloncy and to take her home as early at 8 PM. My roommate, who was deafened at 21, did not understand the fuss. I explained to her about "the foreign accent syndrome" that Daddy told me about. Then she became angry and wanted to educate all hearing parents of deaf children to stop forcing children to learn to speak!
Jean Boutcher
The Wall Street Journal should know better!! Usually the only journalists who still use "deaf and dumb" are those in developing countries that are not very enlightened yet.
ReplyDeleteJean,
ReplyDeleteNot all 'oralists' sound the same. I assume that you are referring to 'oral deaf' people. Some deaf people have better speaking skills than others. The same can be said for people with typical hearing. Just because others find someone's voice 'annoying' or 'weird' does not mean that that person does not have the right to use their voice as they please. There is nothing wrong with deaf children learning how to speak and for deaf people to use their voice or speak the way they wish to.
It is true speaking skills of oral deaf ppl vary from "deaf voice" to actual hearing voice with correct intonation, inflection, throw in a regional twang even.
ReplyDelete"Deaf and dumb" is a rather archaic term today, but yes, I still read that term in some news items from time to time regarding a deaf person, who may or may not speak. I cringe whenever I come across it, because the word "dumb" today is another negative equivalent for "stupid". And d/Deaf ppl, whether they speak or not, aren't stupid.
Ann_C
The meaning for dumb evolved for a reason. It may started out as mute, but people abused it because how the see deaf people especially when they don't have a language.
ReplyDeleteReporters ought to get to know deaf better . That way she will write " a person who is deaf and communicate in American Sign Language" . I think calling a deaf person mute can give false information as we don't know he does speak but prefer sign language.
Jean, I think your dad may be just prejudices against foreigners which why deaf people are embarrassing him. People have commented my accent and asked me where I from because they never heard of it. But I don't embarrass anyone. Although I have been made fun of because of my speech in school.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Deaf people use "deaf-mute" since Ella proposed it in the 2007 blog you linked. Some people were against it, myself included.
ReplyDeleteAs a term used by hearing people, it betrays their ignorance of Deaf people. It lumps Deaf people as nonhearing, nonspeaking, and gives the impression of uneducated as well.
To be mute implies incapable of speech, inability to give informed consent, or to give any input. We speak of mute acceptance, mute animals, terrorized people rendered mute. It means to silence, as in muting the sound of a TV or a firearm, or reduced strength, as in muted colors.
Instead, we use "profoundly deaf" or "culturally Deaf" in public. We use "deafie" or "deafy" intimately as a term of affection and acceptance similar to Black people using the N-word among themselves. (It's an insider term normally not acceptable when used by outside people.)
Today I ask people to remove "deaf-mute" and "deaf-mutism" from their notations even though it appears in professional entymologies. It actually says nothing accurate about us, similar to "hearing-impaired." Some dictionaries actually add "considered offensive when applied to people" in entries defining "deaf-mute".
Well, I used to be offended by the "dumb" bit.
ReplyDeleteThen I read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where it explains that hearing people talk so much because if they stop, their brains start working.
I feel better about the whole issue these days.
Deaf people aren't dumb if you did misunderstanding. Deafness is peaceful and its wonderful thing. I'm so glad I'm deaf. I LOVE DEAFNESS!
ReplyDelete