Guide three
Deaf Culture & Etiquette
Learning ASL means joining a conversation that has been going on for more than two centuries. Deaf culture has its own history, arts, humour and customs, and respectful learners take the time to understand them.
Deaf and deaf
Many people write Deaf with a capital D to describe the cultural and linguistic community, and deaf with a lowercase d to describe hearing status. Hard of hearing is a common term too. The term hearing impaired is widely disliked. When in doubt, use the words a person uses about themselves.
A short history
In 1817 the American School for the Deaf opened in Hartford, Connecticut, with French Deaf teacher Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. French Sign Language mixed with signing already used in American communities, including on Martha’s Vineyard, and grew into ASL. Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., remains an important centre of Deaf education and culture.
Everyday etiquette
- Getting attention: wave in someone’s line of sight, tap a shoulder lightly or, where it is the custom, flick the lights.
- Eye contact: keep it. Looking away while someone signs is like turning your back while they speak.
- Interpreters: speak directly to the Deaf person, not to the interpreter.
- Name signs: wait to be given one by Deaf community members rather than inventing your own.
- Passing between signers: walk through briskly. Stopping or ducking draws more attention.
- Voice off: at Deaf events, try to sign rather than speak, even with other hearing learners.
Signing on video
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Light from the front | A window behind you turns your hands and face into silhouettes. |
| Frame head to waist | Signs use the space in front of your body, not just your face. |
| Plain background | Busy patterns make handshapes harder to read. |
| Steady camera | Prop the phone or laptop so both hands are free. |
A living language
ASL varies by region, age and community, just as spoken languages do. Black ASL, for example, developed in segregated Southern schools and has its own features. Respect the variety you meet and ask questions with curiosity.
Deaf arts
ASL storytelling, poetry, theatre and humour are rich traditions. Watching Deaf performers and creators is a joyful way to see the full range of the language.