Is Orkney’s flag the new flag of Deaf people?
There’s a famous book called ‘Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language’. It’s about the island of Martha’s Vineyard in the USA. From the seventeenth century to the early years of the twentieth century, a high proportion of children born there had hereditary deafness. Hearing and Deaf islanders all grew up using sign language. Deaf people were included in all aspects of life, such as politics, jobs, church affairs, and social life.
What if Deaf people who use British Sign Language could live in a similar society? What if we all moved to Orkney, the small group of islands just north of Scotland?
The 2011 census was the first ever to ask how many people use BSL. The number who said Sign Language was their main language was around 22,000 (although many of us think it’s much higher). The 2011 Census figure for the population of the Orkney Islands was 20,160. Neat, eh?
So what if all of us who said Sign Language was our main language simply moved to Orkney? Would life be much easier, in our own linguistic community, where everybody knew how to sign? Or are we better staying where we are – scattered to the four corners of the UK, facing educational, employment and social barriers and discrimination? Is new technology, like mobile phones and video relay systems, starting to make things better?
Orkney is remote but would it be ideal for a Deaf nation?
This is one of the ideas being discussed at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas. The debaters are Professor Graham Turner, Chair of Translation & Interpreting Studies at Heriot-Watt University, and Deaf entrepreneur Jeff McWhinney, former Chief Executive of the British Deaf Association. The compere will be Scottish comedian Susan Morrison.
It’s all happening at The Famous Spiegeltent in George Street on Tuesday 20th August at 3.30pm.
The people of Orkney have thrown themselves into this debate with terrific humour. The VisitScotland office in Orkney has sent 100 Orkney flags to be given free to everybody who attends the debate. And the Chief Executive of Orkney Islands Council, Alistair Buchan, will be sending a message to be read out. What will he say? Will he welcome 25,000 or more Deaf immigrants with open arms? Or what?!
If you’d like a ticket – just £5 – there are details on the Edinburgh Beltane website: http://www.beltanenetwork.org/ai1ec_event/send-the-deaf-to-orkney/?instance_id=299. Or you can contact:
Beltane Network Tel: 0131 650 4874/4875 Email: info@beltanenetwork.org
By Bob Duncan. Bob Duncan produced nearly 200 BSL programmes for Channel 4 (Listening Eye, Sign On, A Language for Ben.) He now works with Signworld, one of the sponsors of The Limping Chicken.
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Gaz
August 14, 2013
It’s an interesting concept…but you’ll have to remember not all deaf people sign. I’m profoundly deaf, yet I’ve never signed in my life.
robertmduncan
August 14, 2013
Gaz, I realise not all deaf people sign. That’s why I wrote “Deaf people who use British Sign Language.”
Can I also explain that I’m not Deaf?! When I wrote the article I didn’t realise I would be named and shamed! It was a hypothetical reflection put into the words of a Deaf person wondering what it would be like! Oh, and the headline is the very clever editor/sub-editor’s – made me laugh, but that wasn’t exactly what I wrote!
Editor
August 14, 2013
It was almost what you wrote though and I did ask to give you credit.
Charlie told me to stay out of trouble .. please don’t tell him about this.
Andy
Robert Duncan
August 14, 2013
Andy, your secret is safe with me! It gave me a good laugh anyway – and nobody has reported me yet for faking to be a Deaf person!
Tim
August 14, 2013
Would all Deaf people be welcome there? I’ve met one or two Deafies who are full of hatred toward any Deaf person who is trying to overcome an oralist upbringing (“Deaf people don’t sign like that.”) – I refer to them as counterfeit comrades.
Graham Turner
August 14, 2013
The ‘Send the Deaf to Orkney’ event in Edinburgh is, of course, a bit of fun – but it has an important purpose below the surface. The idea of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas is to debate a serious topic in a lively way. I bet many Limping Chickeneers have thought over the years about the possibility of a ‘Deafland’ where everything is designed to suit Deaf people – classrooms where everyone signs; really good videophones for everyone; cars that are designed so your feet and knees do all the work and the driver and passengers can all sign to each other easily; and so on! On the other hand, one might argue that there’s no need for a Deafland, because it is possible – with the right resources – to create an inclusive society, where Deaf and hearing people live as equals. The show will be a chance to air the issues in BSL. We hope to shake a few people out of their cosy assumptions and make them see the issues for Deaf people in a fresh light. The Scottish politician, Mark Griffin, is proposing a BSL Bill to Scotland’s Parliament soon, and perhaps this will help to fire up discussion on this topic!
dicastlewriter
August 14, 2013
While I am sure this was intended to be humorous, it does raise issues. What is suggested is a form of segregation which could only lead to more ignorance and lack of awareness in the hearing community, something we are all working to change. Many Deaf people (signing and non-signing) settle in large towns and mix in a Deaf community at clubs and churches anyway. There is a place for both signing and oral communication. I am not deaf but my sister who is oral is married to a signer. They communicate brilliantly.
Lucybeth
August 14, 2013
So basically put us on a island cut away from everyone else…….No thanks
Andy. Not him, me.
August 14, 2013
I would just point out… the reason hardly anyone lives there is because of the bluddy horrible weather. It rains about 360 days of the year and it’s windy for 365.
What on earth did we do to be condemned to such a fate? Meanwhile there’s a large empty building going begging in California. Much more comfortable and it has central heating too. Name of Alcatraz.
Then of course we do have a large residence in neighbouring Devon. People kill to go there. It’s in the middle of Dartmoor. Lovely scenery.
stepheniliffe
August 14, 2013
Hello everyone. My hearing sister-in-law, who lives in Orkney, and has two deaf sisters (living in England) has asked me to pass along her response to Bob article, as follows:
“As a resident of Orkney and the sister of two deaf people I agree with everything that all of you have said. Just a small but crucial point though, before you start moving up here in your droves. Orcadians – and those of us who have moved up here quite like it as it is.
Why don’t you all come up here on holiday and find out for yourselves whether the “bluddy weather” is as bad as described? You might just find out that we had a far better winter than most of you doon in the Lilly livered Sooth and the summer is panning out pretty well too. Invasions need proper planning and should not depend on deafsay (as opposed to hearsay).
And if Scotland becomes independent then BSL users would have to become SSL users with a regional twist of course – and learn the word “Peedie” and a few others besides in order to integrate properly. As for me I would be delighted just to see much more of my sisters so bring it on!”
Leslie Mccabe
August 14, 2013
Would hearing signers be welcome too? I couldn’t stand the thought of being stranded in England without the opportunity to use a language I hold so dear and all the wonderful friends I have within the deaf community. Also I would suddenly be very unemployed. Please don’t go!
James
August 17, 2013
I like the concept, but there’s a major flaw – it’s too damned cold in the Orkney Isles and Orcadians who tell you different are drawn from the same stock as those that named ‘Greenland’!
I think it makes more sense to move en masse to one of the Canary islands – I’ve packd my swimming trunks and sun cream, please let me know when the plane is leaving :0
Andy. Not him, me.
August 17, 2013
By the way, while we are on the subject there was of course the grand plan in the US to sell plots of land to Deaf people with the intention of founding a Deaf town on the basis of the Martha’s Vineyard principle. Incidentally if this is gobbledegook to you please Google for it as there isn’t space here to explain.
Back to the new town… it was going to be called Laurent. it was in South Dakota and a company was formed to set it all up, I think in 2008. Unfortunately that turned out to be a really bad time because shortly afterwards the world ship of commerce hit a rock.
So… will it happen again when all this financial hoo-haa is over?
Would you move there? I’m told South Dakota is a nice place to live. Don’t forget however that they do not have DLA!
deafnotdaft
August 18, 2013
May I ask Limping Chicken to post a new item next week to let us all know how the debate went. I’m sure Graham Turner will do us a wee write-up if you ask him nicely.
Deafislander
August 19, 2013
I’m originally from Leeds but moved to Orkney three years ago when my partner was offered a job here.
There are a lot of preconceptions about the weather. Actually during the winter it’s milder here than Scotland or even England and we don’t really get that much snow – it’s more like a light dusting. I’ve been amazed every winter to hear from family and friends in England and Wales on how bad the snow and ice are and how cold it is where they are – but as we’re surrounded by the Gulf stream, winter are usually mild but wet and windy! The nights are long in the winter but come April – July we have virtually perpetual nights when it rarely get dark enough for you not to see.
Windy – ah! That is ONE thing we do excel at!!! We do get very strong to gale force winds at times although during the summer season it tends to calm down. You do get used to it though.
I have to say there is NO deaf community on this island. Although there are some deaf people here, only two are BSL users. English is my first language, but, as I have severe to profound hearing loss,went to a school for the deaf, have deaf friends and worked for a charity for people with sensory loss, I can sign, although not being able to do it regularly means I’m getting rusty.
I do meet up with one of the BSL users regularly, which I look forward to as I do so miss signing, but it’s only occasional. We don’t have access to BSL interpreters or communication support here as these services are only available on the Scottish Mainland and there are too few of us to ask for those provisions. It can also be costly as we’re a ferry journey away.
There are about 1400 hearing aid users for the whole of the Orkney Islands which mean we’re pretty much spread about, so it can be hard if you want to try and bring them all together in one spot.
However, don’t let that put you off coming to our lovely island!! My partner and I fell in love with it, and despite being unable to communicate in BSL on a more regular basis, (my partner is hearing), I just love it here.
I do hope someone will write up what’s the outcome of this debate as I would be interested to hear. I personally don’t agree with locating all deaf people in one place – for how can hearing people meet, learn from and integrate with deaf people?