| disclaimer: this is an essay i wrote for my linguistics final. i am by no means an expert on deafness, language, or education. These are just some things that i have been learning and that i find fascinating and beautiful, and i wanted to share them with you all. so read away: Final Exam Essay: A Response to "On Language, Power and the Deaf" Language oppression is not a new occurrence. It is something that has gone on since the beginning of languages, all throughout history, in many different cultures. Since people have craved power and authority, there has been oppression of the individual through language. When a language is oppressed over a period of time, it can lead to what is known as language death. The death of a language occurs when there is no longer any active speakers using it. Let me back up a bit. It starts off when two languages have contact with each other for whatever reason. One language is seen as the dominant language. This term leads one to think that this language is stronger or better. But, this is not the case: there is nothing inherent about a language that makes it a dominant language. Rather, it is the social, political and economic context surrounding two languages that sets one as the dominant and the other as the "less dominant". Usually, the death of a language is not purposeful. The dominating language does not always seek out to "kill" the other language. And, language death is not always certain when two languages are in contact. There are many cases where two languages can peacefully coexist. So, although language death is not always certain and not always purposeful, in cases of oppression of one's language, language death can and does occur. An example of this in our own country is our history of education of deaf children. Not all that long ago, a method of educating the deaf, know as oralism, became very popular. So popular in fact, that most (if not all) schools were using this method. Oralism sought to have deaf people know English, speak English and read lips and therefore allowed absolutely no signing or gesturing whatsoever. In defense of educators and parents of this time, I do not believe they had the malicious intent of holding power over deaf individuals and forever denying them of their language. They were however, demonstrating the egocentric idea that their language (English) was a superior means of communication. It is oppression like this that can lead to eventual language death. In fact, many deaf people at this time were very afraid that their language, American Sign Language was going to disappear. There are many silent movies and videos of ASL from this time, an attempt to forever preserve their language. Why does this oppression of language occur, everywhere, but namely the oppression of ASL in America? As I said before, language oppression isn't always purposeful, but an almost natural process that happens when two languages come in contact with each other. But, many times this oppression is purposeful. As Harlan Lane said, " Language has long been an instrument of empire, used to create homogeneity and fealty to a central power, to minimize or eradicate diversity". Basically, language is power. And if you speak a different language than me, I may not be able to control you. However, if I can get you to succumb to my ways and my language, and not allow you to use the language that is native and empowering for you to use, then how much easier will I be able to have my way over you in other areas? I also think that there is definitely a fear of differences, a fear of diversity. If you are different from me, I won't be able to understand you. If you speak a language that I don't understand, you may rally or conspire with others in this language, and "get away with something". For example, if deaf children use ASL in the classroom, and the teacher doesn't know ASL, then it goes to assume, that she won't be able to have as much control over these children (oppression!). Aside from these reasons, I think it is natural for humans to have the fear that if they are not the oppressor, then they may become the oppressed. So, perhaps it is not for the need for power or control, but rather from the fear of becoming controlled. The oppression of language may not always take the form of forcing others to use your preferred language, but, more severely, to deny them of language altogether! Although this happens less today in America than it used to, it is still something that occurs with deaf children (and even some adults). And, from my experiences, is still happening much too often in other parts of the world. Oralism tried to teach deaf children, a language with a vocal/auditory modality (English) BEFORE first teaching them (or ever teaching them at all) what should be their native language (ASL). Most deaf children, for reasons obvious to understand, were not able to learn English. How can one learn a language they can not hear, when they have no prior language development, history of using language, or even have a language at all to make sense of what their educators are even attempting to get across?! Therefore, many deaf children have been denied access to language altogether! They live through the most crucial learning years of their lives, without a language! Language is indispensable for developing one's sense of self and identity. Language helps us make sense of the world and culture around us. It is key for social interaction, social development, and the building of relationships. To deny an individual of language, as is plain to see, is a HUGE oppression - one can't even have normal and proper development without it! I, unfortunately, have seen these devastating effects first hand during my volunteer experiences in Belo Horizonte, Brazil where I had the privilege of working with inner city deaf kids. These children were stuck in an education system that neither understood them nor seemed to care to even try to understand them. The result: deaf children and young adults who were still not yet proficient in any language, neither Portuguese or Brazilian Sign Language. They had communication, but not a strong working competence of language. This trickled out into other areas of their lives: their ability to form relationships, to speak openly about their thoughts, to hold down a job, to move forward with their education. The oppression of their language clearly led to oppression in their daily lives. Although America is still not completely at a place of total mutual respect for ASL, I do believe the status of ASL has most definitely improved. Deaf Americans are obviously still the minority, and continue to use a language much different then the rest of society, therefore, they experience discrimination and oppression to some degree everyday. It does however seem that our culture has a "renewed appreciation of culture pluralism" which also includes the culture of ASL. It is becoming ever more popular to teach and learn American Sign Language. We buy books for our babies to learn it, many high schools teach it as a foreign language, and there are ASL degrees at many universities throughout the nation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that interpreters be provided for deaf people in certain circumstances. While most Americans are not fluent in it, ASL is gaining respect and more and more people are seeking to learn it. Our society and education system has a long way to go to gain full mutual respect between English and ASL, but it does seem we are on the right path. People are beginning to realize that a language is still a language even if it doesn't have the standard modality of vocal/auditory. A visual/gestural mode of communication really can be a language! I think that people are realizing that a language isn't less because it uses facial expressions and body movements to affirm, negate, ask or answer a statement rather than word order or vocal intonation. It seems our society is realizing that ASL is different than English and not a lesser means of communicating. It is this realization (not only in regards to language), the realization that we are not superior or inferior, only different, that is so freeing! Rather than oppressing, or being oppressed, we can appreciate and respect one another. It is in this that the true power lies, good and truthful power. When we can see differences as beauty, we give ourselves the power to learn, to grow and to experience. To respect and learn another's language, is to respect their culture (language reflects our culture). It is then that we can see outside of ourselves and our culture and learn about other ways of doing things or other ways of thinking. We can even begin to incorporate these elements into our own lives, bettering ourselves in ways that our own culture would never have afforded us. This brings me to the topic of interpreting. Many think interpreting is nothing more than repeating words into another language. It is so much more than this! An interpreter is a mediator not only between two different languages, but also between two cultures. This person's ultimate goal is to see communication, growth, learning, and respect take place between other individuals. And how can an interpreter do this unless they themselves have a holistic understanding and respect of the languages and cultures they are mediating between? As Harlan Lane said, this "is the premise of interpreting". When this communication, mediation, and respect takes place, I believe an interpreter has done their job well. In doing so, they have freed their consumers (both hearing and deaf) from the bondage of oppression and replaced it with the power of language. What a beautiful thing! |
