Deaf culture, Deaf life, Deaf experiences….

Cultural Rule #1

Getting the attention of a Deaf person is something unique to their community. There are rules or suggestions of the best way to do this.

Gently tap the person on the shoulder or arm
Wave your hand to get visual attention
Turn the lights off and on
If the floor or table carries vibrations, you can stomp your foot or rap with your hand-but not too sudden or vigorous
If the person has some hearing, you can shout at them if it will not cause a disturbance

It never advisable to throw something at the Deaf as it could cause injury.

Cultural rule #2

Unless you working with a hard of hearing individual, moving your lips is not only unnecessary, it is also visually distracting to a Deaf person. If you are signing and talking at the same time, you are not producing pure FSL and therefore your message may not be clear. When signing with a Deaf person, try not to move your lips unless it is part of the sign.

Cultural rule #3

Without facial expression, your message lacks tone and may not make sense for a Deaf person, not to mention it is boring to watch. While some people are uncomfortable with making faces in front of others, it is an important part of the message in sign. It is your way of asking a question or negating a statement. In some cases, the facial expression must be paired with a sign in order for it to make sense (ie-sign for recent, late, or finally). It is the way to show the emotion behind the message. Your face is like your voice in sign language.

Cultural rule #3.5

Observe the Deaf and their animation. The intensity of the sign, the repetition and the movement paired with their facial expressions make them captivating storytellers.

Cultural note #4

The Deaf may not be able to hear but their other senses are often well developed and allow they to adapt to almost anything. According to I. King Jordan, the first Deaf President of Gallaudet College, “The only thing a Deaf person cannot do is hear”.


Cultural rule #5

Name signs are a very important part of Deaf culture. There are rules the Deaf follow when making up name signs, hence the reason only a Deaf person is supposed to give you a name sign. The name sign often reflects a physical characteristic (hair length, dimples, a scar) or it can be related to your personality or job. Once given a name sign, it is how the Deaf community recognizes you.

Cultural note #6

Mime is the art of dramatic representation, usually by means of facial expressions and body movements rather than words. Originating in Asia, mime spread across the world and has evolved in modern day theatre as a purely silent art, where meaning is conveyed solely by gesture, movement, and expression. Developed by French actor Jean Gaspard Deburau, other famous mimes include Étienne Decroux, Marcel Marceau, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. The Deaf excel in this form of performance art because they are adept at facial expressions and are better spatially than hearing people.

Cultural note #7

As part of their culture, the Deaf also have drama, literature, and art. ASL literature includes oratory, storytelling, ABC and number stories, ASL humor, tall tales, plays, and poetry. These students demonstrated a number story and a version of an ABC story.

Cultural note #8:

A name story uses the letters of your name to correspond with a sign or classifier and are combined to make up a story.

Cultural note #9

As many of you know, the Deaf are often skilled performers. Despite their inability to hear the beat, they can feel it and read it on the hands of others.

Cultural note #10

Signing and walking can be hazardous to your health! J While research has shown that Deaf people have better peripheral vision than hearing, the occasional instance of tripping or running into things does occur.

Cultural information #11

Deaf culture is much like a small town where everyone knows one another. For this reason, gossip often occurs in much the same way as it does in hearing culture.

Cultural rule #12

When in the presence of the Deaf, if you know sign language it is rude not to sign everything you are saying, even if the conversation does not involve the Deaf person. If it is a private conversation, it is best to leave the room so you do not need to sign.

Cultural rule #13

It is common for hearing people to address another hearing person while they accompany a Deaf person for appointments. As an advocate for the Deaf, you can suggest the person address the Deaf and help facilitate communication between them. Getting the proper information at the doctors office, including proper diagnosis, treatment plan and medication regime are very important for the Deaf.


Cultural note #14

Parents often complain that Deaf students want to go out a lot with their friends. For many Deaf, there is often little to no communication in the home, therefore their friendships take on even more significance and become much like their family.

Cultural note #15

When people do not sign in front of the Deaf or when the Deaf attempt to read body language, sometimes they become suspicious of those around them because they are not sharing information. To reduce the suspiciousness of the Deaf, it is best to respect them and their language by signing in their presence. For hearing, this experience resembles when the Deaf sign in front of you, or a person speaks another language that you do not understand. Many of us feel uncomfortable and slightly suspicious.

Cultural rule #16

The old term “mute” never applied to the Deaf because the majority of the Deaf are not mute. Most can indeed make noises, some that are intelligible and some develop the capacity to produce good speech but it is rare. When Deaf kids start learning to talk, often they are ridiculed because of the sounds they make. Many kids stop talking because of the taunting and teasing. It is never appropriate to laugh at or make fun of a Deaf person because of the sound of their speech.

Cultural note #17

Children’s first language teachers are their parents. It is often hard for parents to remember to sign what is happening in the home, especially when there are arguments or family problems. Parents are also relationship models. Signing so the Deaf student can be involved in the family is important.

Cultural note #18

Due to poverty, lack of educational opportunities and lack of information provided to parents, many Deaf children around the Philippines do not attend school. This leaves students in the position of fending for themselves, including working as maids.

Cultural information #19

Common language is needed to convey family values, rules, and expectations. Without a common language, this information cannot be shared and Deaf students feel excluded and confused. It is difficult for everyone involved to learn another language but it is often the best predictor of a child’s success in school.