hey, well im new to this site, and im sure there are a lot of different opinions on this. im hearing, ive got a few deaf friends, and i think that yes, there is definitely a deaf culture, it has many similarities to the hearing culture, but also a lot of differences. i think the deaf culture is a lot more close-knit than the hearing culture. it seems to me that being in the deaf culture would be a lot like being in a foreign country. should it be that way? no, but it seems inevitable. there are much much greater numbers of hearing people, many of which have no idea about the cultures around them. and it seems to me like with any culture, you tend to stick together when surrounded by a mass. i think a lot of it is also because hearing people may feel like they cant communicate with the deaf culture. i know that before i met any deaf people i had no knowledge of deaf culture, and i probably would not have made a huge attempt to communicate with deaf people, thinking that they could not understand me because i couldnt sign. MY LOSS!
and was i EVER more wrong. My friend kohl has very very little hearing, and he was mainstreamed, and he has learned to lipread and talk VERY well. something that before i opened my eyes to the culture i didnt know was possible. i think in a perfect world deaf and hearing cultures could mesh, but because so many hearing people are clueless and never think about it, it has over time helped to create the deaf culture as a close-knit society.
is that a bad thing? no way! i think its great. and i love being able to be a part of it and learn more and more about it all the time.
should sign language be a foreign language? if sign language being a foreign language means it will be taught in school, then yes, i think it should. and while it has many similar features to its spoken counter-language, (ASL-English, etc.), it is definitely a language of its own. While it lacks some spoken words and expressibility, it carries a lot of other expression that spoken english could never have.
this is all my opinion, as there is no real answer to your questions, and im sure it differs from some people. hopefully we can hear some other input to, as i love hearing what other people have to say, especially from within the deaf community.
And good choice on studies. im going to be doing asl/english interpretation after i transfer this next year!
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to AD! I am a Deaf Ed teacher and love my job! I dont really search websites for deaf culture..this forum is a good one to discuss about Deaf culture. 