Introduction
The American Deaf Community gathers people who are deaf or have hearing issues. These communities are widely spread in the USA and aim to support people with hearing disabilities. The Deaf Community differs from the hearing community, but generally has a few similarities. In addition, sign language in each region has a couple of differences, such as those from the usual languages. The American Deaf Community helps people with hearing disabilities express their thoughts and highlights the significance of these individuals and their achievements.
Community Description
The American Deaf Community is a significant part of American society, utilizing sign language and making a substantial contribution to society’s well-being. This community consists of people born deaf or who have lost hearing during their lives. According to the video, the deaf community is 10-15% of America’s population (The Hangout). This is approximately 30 million inhabitants. This community comprises individuals with varying degrees of hearing disabilities, ranging from total hearing loss to the use of hearing aids or implants. Moreover, some members of the group could hear some sounds.
Community Language
To communicate with deaf people, they use American Sign Language (ASL), which has rules, grammar, and syntax. However, this language does not simply represent English; it has its own culture and features (The Hangout). Additionally, ASL exhibits regional differences.
Many organizations support the activity of the American Deaf Community, but the most active is the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) (The Hangout). The organization’s primary objective is to promote Deaf culture and ensure that Deaf individuals have equal rights and opportunities. Hence, the American Deaf Community is a great group that helps deaf people to better adapt to society.
Comparison of the Deaf and Hearing Communities
Deaf and hearing communities differ in their methods of communication, but share similarities in other aspects of their lives. On the one hand, the deaf community uses ASL, while the hearing community uses spoken language. This difference may cause deaf people to be isolated in hearing communities and lead to misunderstandings (The Hangout).
Another difference is how deaf and hearing people experience music and sound. Hearing people can fully enjoy the sounds of the music. Nevertheless, deaf people can get a similar experience by feeling the vibrations or beat of the music (The Hangout).
On the other hand, deaf and hearing communities have friends, families, plans for the future, and a desire to establish necessary connections, gain experiences, or acquire essential belongings. In addition, deaf people, like hearing people, can learn, develop, and grow regardless of their disabilities (The Hangout). Lastly, both communities have equal rights and life opportunities to meet their needs and desires. Thus, hearing and deaf communities have different methods of communication, but they have similar opportunities and rights to develop and grow.
Community Location
The American Deaf Community is located throughout the country, and many of its members are well-known. It is impossible to define a single group location, as its members reside in various states and cities across the USA, including Virginia, California, and New York. The deaf community is not limited to any geographical location; these people are a significant part of society.
For instance, Mila Davis-Kent is a black deaf girl who lives in California and has been filmed in a few movies (Melmira). Another example is the black deaf woman who served in the American Navy. This woman is a significant pilot of the USA (Smith). Despite her hearing disabilities, she found a way to succeed and serve her country. Therefore, there is no specific location for the American Deaf Community, as these individuals are an integral part of society, so they can be found anywhere they choose.
Regional Differences in Community Language
The American Deaf Community uses the common American Sign Language in the USA, but a few regional differences were observed. The sign language of two women was compared, one from Virginia and another from California. These women used the same sign language to express their thoughts, but their expressions were different. The girl from California used her lips more than the woman from Virginia. Additionally, it is noted that even ASL can have regional differences in expressions, similar to those found in normal spoken language.
Comparison of the Languages of the Deaf and the Hearing Community
Significant differences are observed when comparing ASL with the language of hearing people. Firstly, sign language is a totally different form of communication. Secondly, hearing language uses sounds, while sign language is unmuted. Nevertheless, both communities utilize words from normal languages, but deaf communities cannot say them out loud. Hence, ASL exhibits significant regional differences, and compared to spoken language, ASL is a completely new communication model with its own syntax, grammar, and structure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American Deaf Community is a group of people who experience hearing difficulties, but they have the same opportunities and rights as their hearing peers. These people have their own language, but they are located everywhere and have no specific location. Moreover, the only difference between them and the hearing community is their way of communication; the other aspects are similar, so they should not be separated.
Works Cited
Melmira. ” Melmira, Black Deaf Girl Magic, Mila Divas-Kent.” Facebook, 2023. Web.
Smith, Jennifer. “CODA Pilot Part of All-Female Flyover Team During SB 2023.” The Daily Moth, Daily Moth. 2023. Web.
The Hangout. “Deaf Children Book Authors – THE HANGOUT.” YouTube, uploaded by The Daily Moth. 2022. Web.