Do we have to choose between the terms "ASL" and "Deaf"? No, we don't have to take sides on that issue.. We can embrace both terms. We don't have to divide ourselves in this way. Both of these words, "Deaf" and "ASL", are meaningful and useful in different ways and the bring benefit to the Deaf community. We can use both terms without feeling like we must take a particular side. For some people, they prefer using "ASL" instead using "Deaf", or vice versa. Either way is fine and we can still respect both of these words even we might use one more than the other or in different situations. Both terms are linked to a positive view of being Deaf. I am proud to say I am Deaf *and* an ASL-bilingual and I do not have to make an either-or choice. I'm simply making the choice to embrace both terms, "ASL" and "Deaf". :o) I will be out of town for two weeks. I will not be able to access DR or DVTV for at least two weeks. So have fun vlogging and blogging while I am out. :o) Aidan
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Deaf or ASL: Do We Have To Choose?
Do we have to choose between the terms "ASL" and "Deaf"? No, we don't have to take sides on that issue.. We can embrace both terms. We don't have to divide ourselves in this way. Both of these words, "Deaf" and "ASL", are meaningful and useful in different ways and the bring benefit to the Deaf community. We can use both terms without feeling like we must take a particular side. For some people, they prefer using "ASL" instead using "Deaf", or vice versa. Either way is fine and we can still respect both of these words even we might use one more than the other or in different situations. Both terms are linked to a positive view of being Deaf. I am proud to say I am Deaf *and* an ASL-bilingual and I do not have to make an either-or choice. I'm simply making the choice to embrace both terms, "ASL" and "Deaf". :o) I will be out of town for two weeks. I will not be able to access DR or DVTV for at least two weeks. So have fun vlogging and blogging while I am out. :o) Aidan
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
LOL! Can't decide,too!
Hi Aidan,
You got it right! I am disappointed in people who have viewed the term of Deaf as negative. It alarms me because in my view, it is audism and even promotion of audism.
ASL and Deaf depend on each other and that creates Deaf Culture. ASL/Sign Language unites Deaf and Deaf preserves ASL/Sign Language Now we have our own Deaf Culture. ASL with Deaf (Deaf Culture) is not the same as ASL without Deaf (no Deaf Culture).
Great vlog!
Deafchip
Here comes Aidan again, smile. Good one. I was surprised that some Deaf people discussed terms “ASL” and “Deaf” and which term we must choose to identify ourselves. Hearing people gave us the term “Deaf” centuries ago and it was considered a medical term. Since they gave use this term “Deaf” and now we own this term. This term belongs to us now. I own this term. It is mine. I can define this term what it means to me. I thanked them for giving us this term. “Deaf” is the most beautiful word. It is a gem…jewel and precious to me. I am proudly to call myself Deaf and I am proudly to tell others that ASL is my primary language! :-)
I am tired of seeing Deaf people saying what hearing people think of this…how hearing people interpret this..and let hearing people define this term for us. No, let our community tell the world what Deaf means, how we interpret this term and how we want to define it. They gave us the term. It belongs to us now.
Remember that "Deaf" with an upper-case D is a proper name. In the US it refers to the specific group of people in the US and Canada who comprise a culture based on using ASL.
There is nothing inherently negative about the upper-case (name) version "Deaf". It does not directly refer to "lack of hearing," but only includes that concept as a small part of the whole picture. The whole picture is a positive one.
I love ASL & Deaf equal!
PS Hope you love rain because it is raining in Seattle today and tomorrow. Should be nice this weekend but on monday rain should be back again. So bring rain coat, rain boot, and umbrella with you. : )
ASL is a new age. Deaf is an old age so let it go...winkz!
Beautiful Signed! If Deaf isn't here on Earth, ASL won't be here, either! I'm Deaf and ASL user. Deaf and ASL are best friends :)
Whoa! What kind of the question is that?!
I don't except that one because it is ridiculous and rubbish thing to ask!
I don't know about you or anyone else and we need to think before ask ourselves.
Remember ASL is coming from Old FSL, thanks to Laurent Clerc who is deaf professor;so he brought beautiful language here and let it evolve and still growing as tree.
Deaf is only define us as we are in the community. Deaf do nothing with audism, oralism, CI, and etc.
Deaf is all about NO HEAR and SILENT, period. Of course, it also about self-identity person and acknowledge its belong to the community.
Now, you see, ASL is visual and expressive language and part of Deaf Culture.
If without ASL, we will not be here or didn't exist on the earth at all.
Honestly, I think that question is stupid and we don't need to answer or take sides.
Again, we don't need to be brainwash by ignorance, supremacist, and "Deaf-bashers".
LOL, You are a real, real, REAL character, Aidan! :)
Besides an international foreign language translator, Daddy described himself as a French-speakling person who equally felt comfortable with English-speaking people. Daddy often introduced a friend or a family to me, "This family is Italian-speaking." Why is it that you cannot use it for deaf people who are ASL-signing people?
Perhaps you have not heard hearing people say the way Daddy said (hearing himself). So let us be a little bit more flexible sound sophisticated by saying, "Aidan is an ASL-signing person." Fancy? :-D
Jean
Post a Comment