The Question of Culture

Most people unfamiliar with it consider deafness a disability. The prospect that deafness may actually fit into the model of a cultural entity is quite a new concept, and one that many find difficult to justify. Is Deaf a culture? Or, do the deaf simply adapt other modes of communication in order to cope with mainstream society? The answer may not be cut-and-dried as many may believe. However, before presenting the actual issue, it is necessary to investigate the anthropological criteria and prerequisites of "culture." Since no two definitions for the term "culture" are alike, several will be presented and examined.