When our perspectives on disability began to evolve, so too did the language we use to discuss people who are disabled. While reading news stories about the “deaf, mute girl” in mainstream American outlets, however, I can’t help but feel like we’ve transported a half century backwards in our acceptance of deafness.
The phrase “deaf-mute” is problematic, and it is not an appropriate way to discuss a person. Calling someone “mute” silences them and strips them of their agency — it sticks a label on them that devalues their autonomy. Mute is a loaded term which carries the distinct connotation that people who are deaf don’t have anything to say.
Read the full article by clicking here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lydia-l-callis/how-the-media-mutes-deaf-voices_b_8447342.html
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, or sign a blog for us by clicking here!
Make sure you never miss a post by finding out how to follow us, and don’t forget to check out what our supporters provide:
- Phonak: innovative technology and products in hearing acoustics
- Ai-Live: Live captions and transcripts
- Bellman: hearing loss solutions
- Deaf Umbrella: sign language interpreting and communications support
- Clarion: BSL/English interpreting and employment services
- Appa: Communication services for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing people
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- 121 Captions: captioning and speech-to-text services
- Doncaster School for the Deaf: education for Deaf children
- Signworld: online BSL learning and teaching materials
- Sign Solutions:, language and learning
- Sign Lingual: BSL interpreting and communication services
- Action Deafness Communications: sign language and Red Dot online video interpreting
- SDHH: Project Development and Consultancy
- Mykasoft: Deaf-run Web Design Studio
- BSLcourses.co.uk: Provider of online BSL courses
- deafPLUS: Money advice line in BSL
- Hamilton Lodge School in Brighton: education for Deaf children
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- RAD: financial advice for Deaf people
- Krazy Kat: visual theatre with BSL
- Exeter Deaf Academy: education for Deaf children
- SignHealth: healthcare charity for Deaf people
- CJ Interpreting: communication support in BSL
Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:
The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf journalist, screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.
Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.
The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:
- BSL Zone: TV programmes in BSL for the Deaf community
- Deaf Umbrella: what support is available for deaf students?
- Bellman & Symfon: home alerting solutions, including the mobile phone transceiver!
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- SignHealth: check out the BSL health library
- 999 BSL: call 999 in an emergency, in BSL
- Appa: Looking for RSLIs, TSLIs and CSWs, apply here!
- Signly: Adding BSL to websites
- Signworld: Learn BSL online!
- DCAL: world-class research into deafness, cognition and language
- Action Deafness: “A Deaf-Led Charity” – interpreting & community support services
- Sign Solutions: Instant access to Interpreters, training and BSL translation nationwide
- InterpretersLive: On demand BSL video interpretation
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- BID: Deaf services, including advice and support, interpreting, employment and letters
- Performance Interpreting: BSL interpreting at concerts
- National Deaf Children's Society: The leading charity for deaf children
Tim
November 6, 2015
Good article. The same arguments apply to the now fashionable chant of ‘hearing loss.’ A negative term invented by hearies to keep Deaf people ‘in their place.’
Cathy
November 7, 2015
I try not to make too much fuss over words. Many have distinct meanings, which are often totally lost on people, although the term “mute” means without speech, there are very few deaf people who are unable to speak at all.
Speech may not be legible and little understood by those who don’t know the deaf person, which is precisely why interpreters have to voiceover. In spite of this I see no legible reason for describing deaf people as “deaf mute”. At the end of the day it is perfectly reasonable to describe us as deaf, we do not need the extra description as this does not define us.
I notice this article is linked to America and deaf people over there are usually far more vocal than deaf people in England are! The protest march over Gallaudet University comes to mind! Deaf people made it abundandtly clear that the head of University should be deaf not hearing! And the hearing person eventually stepped down!
I could not imagine this scenario happening with deaf people in England in a million years!!! We are far less vocal than they are! So its a strange irony for deaf Americans to be described as “deaf mute!”
Any journalist worth his salt needs to learn about the American Deaf community and what a powerful part of America they are! They are way out in front in terms of making life far more accessible to the lives of Deaf Americans compared to those who are deaf in Britain.
It is time for any reporter to junk the term “deaf mute” in exchange for “Deaf Power”!