Style guide question: 'deaf' versus 'Deaf'

[tamsinewing555]

For discussion:

Deaf versus deaf:

• ‘Deaf’ (with a capital letter): Denotes cultural identity and membership in a community that uses sign language, such as American Sign Language (ASL)
• ‘deaf’ (with a lower case letter): A medical or descriptive term for a hearing impairment (Note: A person who is deaf may not use sign language or identify with Deaf culture)

Thoughts:
TE: My understanding is that Deaf culture (with a capital 'D') refers to communities that use sign language as their primary mode of communication.

• For USA views on this topic, see:
  https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52285-The-importance-of-deaf-culture

• I think New Zealand explains it even more clearly:
  https://www.deaf.org.nz/resource/fact-sheet-what-is-deaf-culture/
  Note: This would be an authoritative reference for New Zealand.

[shawna-slh]

questions:

• Is this wording appropriate to describe the difference between 'deaf' and 'Deaf'?
• Is use of sign language a requirement for 'Deaf'?

Let's consult more authoritative references than just these two.

[iadawn]

@shawna-slh Got anywhere with this?

Note, see also:

• https://signhealth.org.uk/resources/learn-about-deafness/deaf-or-deaf/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/opinion/d_or_d_whos_deaf_and_whos_deaf.shtml
• https://communicationlinkllc.com/blog/deaf-vs-deaf-understanding-the-difference/
• https://deafvibes.com/living-with-hearing-loss/what-is-the-difference-between-deaf-and-d-deaf/

[shawna-slh]

Let's consult more authoritative references than just these two.

@shawna-slh Got anywhere with this?

Oh, that "Let's" meant @tamsinewing555

(/me types more here, then deletes, then types something different, then deletes and decides not to write more that could be misconstrued negatively when I'm try to be funny and clever. />

[tamsinewing555]

@iadawn - Thanks for providing further references from the UK and USA.

I think 'deaf' being a description of a physiological condition is not in question, but I've pulled out the descriptions of 'Deaf', to be able to see them side by side:

UK references:

SignHealth.org.uk:
"Deaf ... is used by many people in Deaf community to recognise cultural and linguistic differences. Deaf culture is a set of shared values, beliefs, behaviours, traditions, and institutions of a community that uses sign language as the primary means of communication [emphasis added]. In the UK there is a very strong Deaf community with a proud culture and sense of identity, based on a shared language"

Ouch! — BBC:
"Deaf - with a capital "D" (and occasionally with capital E, A and F too) - is used to refer to people who are culturally Deaf. These people actively use British Sign Language [emphasis added]; they see themselves as being culturally Deaf and part of the Deaf community."

USA references:

CommunicationLink:
"'Deaf,' with a capital D, transcends the physical aspect of hearing loss. It refers to a cultural identity and membership within the Deaf community—a rich, vibrant culture united by shared experiences, history, and the use of ASL or other sign languages [emphasis added]."

Deaf Vibes:
"Within the Deaf community, embracing Deaf identity with a capital 'D' signifies a cultural pride in deafness as a positive attribute ... American Sign Language (ASL) plays a crucial role [emphasis added]in this cultural identity ...Through ASL, Deaf individuals communicate, connect, and express themselves in ways that are deeply rooted in their cultural heritage. This shared language and sense of community create a strong bond among Deaf individuals, reinforcing the importance of Deaf culture and identity in shaping their lives."

@shawna-slh - Do you have any other references you'd like me to check?
If not, are you comfortable that your questions have been answered?:

• Is this wording appropriate to describe the difference between 'deaf' and 'Deaf'?
• Is use of sign language a requirement for 'Deaf'?

Do you feel we should make the following proposed definitions in the style guide any clearer, or that there is any risk that these terms could be misinterpreted?

Deaf versus deaf:

‘Deaf’ (with a capital letter): Denotes cultural identity and membership in a community that uses sign language, such as American Sign Language (ASL)
‘deaf’ (with a lower case letter): A medical or descriptive term for anyone who is hard of hearing (Note: A person who is deaf may not use sign language or identify with Deaf culture)

[tamsinewing555]

@iadawn and I reviewed this and updated the wording to:

Deaf versus deaf:

• “Deaf” (with a capital letter): Denotes cultural identity and membership in a community that primarily uses sign language, such as American Sign Language (ASL)
• “deaf” (with a lower case letter): A medical term to describe anyone who does not hear very much or at all.

Note: A person who is hard of hearing may not use sign language or identify with Deaf culture)

[shawna-slh]

more perspectives:

• signhealth.co.ky:
  • "To recognise the linguistic and cultural differences between deaf people, it was suggested for a time that the most inclusive term to use is d/Deaf. While we appreciate the intentions for this term, at SignHealth we feel it is a little too academic and English language centric. While some of us identify as big D, we are also part of the wider deaf population, which is why, at SignHealth, we use an umbrella term that includes us all."
  • "Hearing-impaired ... Many people find being labelled ‘impaired’ offensive and inaccurate. We don’t use that term and strongly advise against it in any setting."

[shawna-slh]

Straw proposal:

• To keep it simple, use lowercase "deaf" in most documents.
• In the style guide, add "hearing impaired", "hearing impairment" as terms to avoid.
• Where we specifically talk about deafness in How People with Disabilities Use the Web:
  • in Auditory, Diverse Abilities and Barriers,
    • add brief info about capital Deaf and lowercase deaf
    • note that some people do not consider deafness a disability
  • in user stories:
    • change Dhruv to use "Deaf"
    • leave Marta lowercase deaf
    • include pointers in those two user stories to the new info in (Auditory)

[shawna-slh]

@iadawn @tamsinewing555 any concerns with proposal above?

[tamsinewing555]

@iadawn @tamsinewing555 any concerns with proposal above?

@shawna-slh Sounds good to me.
I've updated the Disability language section to add:

• use lowercase "deaf"
• "hearing impaired", "hearing impairment" as terms to avoid.

[tamsinewing555]

• in user stories:*>
  • change Dhruv to use "Deaf"
  • include pointers in [Dhruv and Marta] user stories to the new info in (Auditory)

Done in 84ccd072e233b80afb7427beab849bb8cf4a1b04

[tamsinewing555]

• in Auditory, Diverse Abilities and Barriers,

  • add brief info about capital Deaf and lowercase deaf
  • note that some people do not consider deafness a disability

Done in 34bdc3e