Transcript:
Hello. You know how at times, Deaf people use the word “Deaf Coffee” meaning decaffeinated coffee? And for regular coffee, we use the word “Hearing Coffee.” I’m puzzled at this. In fact, I’m thrown off a bit by these terms. Here’s why: When we use the term “Deaf Coffee” we are referring to the watered down version of coffee. The weaker brew. The one that is not as strong or potent as the one with caffeine.
I don’t like that. It feels like deficit thinking. I know we Deafies use it in a fun, light-hearted, teasing way with each other, but it still carries that concept behind it.
Here’s another situation: I recently sat with a friend. My friend had some candles, but I couldn’t see them. They were inside a bag outside the room and around the corner. My friend was sitting there waiting for me to finish my work when I began to smell the candles. I didn’t know what that smell was though.
I sniffed a couple of times and told my friend, “Something smells like fruit. Do you have fruit with you? It smells like fruit shampoo or something!”
My friend said, “Really? You can smell that?!”
I said, “Yes. What is that smell? Where is it coming from?”
My friend said, “Ha! You have a hearing nose!”
I said, “What?!”
My friend said, “I have candles all the way in the other room in a bag!”
I laughed with my friend at the term, “hearing nose.”
But it made me think. It’s the same concept. If someone had said I have a “Deaf Nose” does that mean it would be “weaker?” Just makes me think. Kind of throws me off.
I did enjoy the laugh with my friend, don’t get me wrong. Deaf people do have that understanding where we can tease each other in that way. But, really, it causes me to stop and think. That kind of joke still carries a negative concept of being Deaf. When we use the terms “Deaf Coffee” or “Deaf Nose” do we mean “weaker?”
What’s up with that?
Bye (ILY wave)
OMG LaRonda, I had the same problem with these two words as when I was in Boston, a friend asked me if I wanted a Deaf Coffee or Hearing Coffee, I was dumbfounded!! I never ever heard of these before till you mentioned it again. Yeah for Deaf nose, I’ve been told that as well. I don’t even use these terms at all as I respect all kinds of people, religions and culture. Its just me and wondering how this was brought up and for how long its been around. Is it “the american way”, I’m only assuming here cause I never heard it in Canada before until I was in Boston last May.
SuzieQ
Left by SuzieQ on March 7th, 2009
Aw, its not that decaf is weaker (it can be stronger flavored) but a play on like-sounding words. You get the idea. We can be very Deaft people in our Deaferse talents and Deafinite goals. Yep, we’re Def people, all right.
Left by Dianrez on March 7th, 2009
Ahhh! Admittedly, I use “Deaf” coffee often and it actually came from a joke or somewhat mocking at the oral methods ‘cuz decaf (not the full word) looks like “deaf” in a bit long way of saying it. Hence, the sign, “Deaf coffee”. Not many Deafies use “hearing” coffee (like me, I don’t use it) as we’d say “regular” if asked whether we’d want “Deaf” or regular. Hope this helps you to understand where or how it came up. About the “Deaf Nose”, it is more of cannot smell at all or smell very weakly (like having a cold or allergy). Same with “Deaf Mind” which is culture-related attitude/thinking, not as weak-minded. :?)
Left by Amy on March 7th, 2009
Deaf family here for four generation, never use that and never heard of it. Must be new?
Left by Old Deaf on March 8th, 2009
Good post LaRonda! I always thought that ‘Deaf coffee’ was a mocking thing direct at me for growing up oral. I simply chalked it up as narrowmindedness or jealousy from my Deaf peers because the choice of growing up oral was not made by me but by my parents. Why should I be blamed or looked down upon for a decision that was made by another in my best interest? I have no control over my past but at the same time I’m not sorry nor ashamed of my past. Why am I not helped and praised for using ASL and gentlely corrected when I sign something incorrectly? I was amazed when taking an ASL class for college requirements that there were several little things that I signing incorrectly for years. I finally was able to understand why so called ‘Deaf Power’ group never accepts me. It is harder to change something once the pattern is set than to learn something correctly. When one thinks about it, better to help a person and bring them into a group to increase one’s number than to shun them. Shunning also creates negativism and division which is not good for the Deaf community.
I have the best of both worlds: Deaf and Hearing. Both provide their own share of pleasures and frustrations. I’ve encountered this deficit thinking in both worlds: Deaf and Hearing. In reference to your ‘Deaf nose’, science has already proven that when one loses a sense the other four are enhanced. Why else would we say a pair of white pants are not white? That means that the Deaf nose is stronger than the Hearing nose! We have our strengths and weaknesses just like a Hearing person does but its up to us to make our weaknesses our strengths, in my opinion. It is up to us to help change people’s thinking one at a time.
Left by Hershey on March 8th, 2009
Hello LaRonda,
I am a student at the University of Redlands and I am taking an ASL II class. My teacher is asking that I interview someone who is a part of the Deaf community. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about Deaf culture. Thanks : )
Alyson
Left by Alyson on March 8th, 2009
Hi Alyson.
Yes, you may contact me for questions. On the right side bar near the bottom, you will see the “Contact Me” link. Click it and you will find me.
~ L
Left by LaRonda on March 8th, 2009