| At the outset of this article I must state that I am a | | | | he would be able to 'talk'. Another joked that Kurnai |
| hearing person. I have no qualifications in deaf culture. I | | | | had told him he was glad he was deaf. The gathered |
| feel compelled to write this article in response to a | | | | hearing community laughed in disbelief. The gathered |
| funeral I recently attended. I was embarrassed by the | | | | deaf community smiled and nodded in agreement. |
| false assumptions held by many of the other hearing | | | | Kurnai had a terminal illness. He spent much time |
| people who attended the funeral. The aim of this | | | | consulting with the medical profession. Their disability |
| article is to broaden cultural understanding of deafness. | | | | was that they did not know his language. In their |
| Many people are born deaf. Others become deaf at a | | | | arrogance they did not think it necessary to have an |
| very young age, due to measles, meningitis or other | | | | interpreter present at all appointments. Everyone has |
| illnesses. They grow up with their own language, | | | | the right to know what is being said. Even if it is just a |
| customs, culture and pride. It is these people this article | | | | simple appointment. "Is my temperature, blood pressure |
| refers to, not those that lose their hearing some time | | | | normal". Surely it is the patients' right to be able to ask |
| after birth. | | | | these questions. The medical profession would benefit |
| I am privileged to have friendships with a number of | | | | from being able to ask the patient "How are you |
| deaf people. I talk with them using Auslan (Australian | | | | feeling? Do you have any pain"? Without an interpreter |
| Sign Language). I have learned that there are vast | | | | present, these simple questions cannot be given an |
| differences between hearing and deaf communities | | | | accurate response. Too many hearing people assume |
| and cultures. I know that many hearing people have a | | | | that deaf people can fully understand written English |
| lack of understanding of deafness. My aim is to | | | | and can lip read. In fact lip reading is a very difficult skill. |
| increase understanding. | | | | Those who master it well can understand about 30% |
| The funeral was for a deaf friend of mine. I will call him | | | | of the conversation. Written English uses very different |
| Kurnai. He was born deaf and proud to be deaf. He | | | | grammar and syntax to Auslan. Therefore it is very |
| was known and respected in both the deaf and the | | | | easy for deaf people to mis-interpret what has been |
| hearing communities. Both deaf and hearing people | | | | written. Often they smile, or nod in response. |
| took part in his eulogy. A sign language interpreter was | | | | Otherwise they take a 50/50 bet and reply either "yes' |
| present. He interpreted for the hearing people. He did | | | | or "no". |
| this by translating the visual sign language into spoken | | | | When you are trying to communicate with a deaf |
| English. He also interpreted for the deaf people. He did | | | | person, follow their lead. Generally gesture and mime is |
| this by translating the spoken language into Auslan. | | | | more effective than written communication. Surely you |
| Kurnai's deaf friends spoke about his love of sport. | | | | would never attempt to communicate with a person |
| They praised his football prowess. They talked of | | | | whose language was not English by using written |
| times long past when they played tricks at school. | | | | English? The same applies when communicating with |
| They talked of his smile and his love of having fun. | | | | deaf people. Their language is not English. |
| None of them mentioned the fact that he was deaf. | | | | Kurnai was a very dear friend. The comments that his |
| The hearing people also talked of some of the | | | | hearing friends made at his funeral would not have |
| personal traits of Kurnai. However they focused so | | | | upset him. As a deaf person, he would have smiled |
| much on the 'dreadful disability' he had. They told | | | | and accepted the fact that no harm was intended. |
| stories of how well he had done in spite of his disability. | | | | This is another example of the differences in our |
| They talked about how sad it was that he could not | | | | cultures. While listening to the stories of his life I was |
| talk. When the truth was that he could talk. His | | | | upset by the mis-understandings. I was embarrassed |
| language, Auslan, is a rich an expressive language. | | | | by the 'politically incorrect' statements that hearing |
| One loving relative marveled that Kurnai danced with | | | | people were making. I was upset and felt the need to |
| his deaf friend. She had no concept that deaf people | | | | defend Kurnai's statement that "Deafness is not a |
| can 'feel' music through vibrations in the floor. Another | | | | Disability". |
| gave thanks that now he had passed to the other life | | | | |