SIGN LANGUAGE POLITICS:

Cultural & Linguistic Appropriation

Written by Stephanus Pretorius 2024

There should be a Deaf task force that investigate social media - Facebook, Instagram and Youtube in order to get a clear understanding exactly how ASL and international sign languages is being misappropriated. For example anyone using ASL either on social media or interpreters for Deaf people and how they are being compensated. Once all this information has been gathered clear guidelines should be issued. There should then be a clear grading of ASL and international sign language skills and anyone that is using ASL or international sign languages, Deaf or hearing for financial gain must first be registered and also specify which level they are and be compensated accordingly. This way Deaf people can have control over the quality level of ASL and international sign languages  and hopefully fake ASL and international sign language users can be eliminated.


Illustrated by Stephanus Pretorius


Reference

Websites
https://openlettertosmc.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-cultural-appropriation-of-asl.html

https://www.stephentorrence.com/blog/on-the-ethics-of-my-art/

Social Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDSNKRaOmo8&t=1s

Illustration
Images by Stephanus Pretorius Copyright 2024



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THAT IS WHO I AM OR WHAT I AM I lived in a hearing world, as all my family members were hearing. I understood I was different from a young age, but I did not know why. It was expected of me to be able to hear. I tried very hard, first with hearing aids and then with a cochlear implant. I only became aware of the Deaf culture recently when I started doing my sign language. I have SASL ( South African Sign Language ), BSL ( British Sign Language ) and ASL ( American Sign Language ). I now understand that I need to be proud of my Deaf culture! I had  a lot of catching up to do. It is important to note who we are and what it means to be Deaf. Deaf culture is our way of life. Language and cultural rights of Deaf people are important. It made me think about ‘Deaf’ as an identity. It made me want to learn and understand more about Deaf culture, so I researched a lot of the history of Deaf ideology and what it means to be Deaf. I know now that I am part of an amazing culture called the Deaf
Read more
Image
Stephanus Pretorius Gallaudet University Deaf Culture Februrary 7, 2024 Analysis of Deafhood:  Colonialism and Deaf Communities Abstract The assignment will analyse the history of Deafhood, how it all started, and discuss the changes in our Deaf culture over the years. Deaf culture will be researched parallel to the Deaf experience and Colonialism. I will look at how hearing parents forced Deaf children to learn oralism to Alexander Graham Bell's idea of eugenics. For years Deaf people struggle for their freedom and rights. How it impacted Deaf people's lives in Deafhood in extremely complicated. Colonialism and Deaf Communite Deaf communities have been the victims of Colonization. The features of this type of Colonization are policies that aim to eradicate or marginalize Deaf organisations and were subsequently taken by non-deaf people that made decisions that were not in the best interest of Deaf people. Sign language developed over years. An example is that European traders
Read more