Tracing a genealogy of Tracing a genealogy of Deafness and Sign Language Deafness and Sign Language

1700- 20061700- 2006

A Foucauldain A Foucauldain analysisanalysis

By Jennifer Malcolm, for Language, Discourse and Power, Massey University

IntroductionIntroductionA brief explanation of Deaf culture vs A brief explanation of Deaf culture vs

auditory deafnessauditory deafness

A brief explanation of genealogical analysisA brief explanation of genealogical analysis

Text 1: Discourses identified in this text and Text 1: Discourses identified in this text and the effects it hadthe effects it had

Text 2: Discourses identified in this text and Text 2: Discourses identified in this text and the effects it hadthe effects it had

Cultural Deafness vs auditory deafness

vs

Genealogical analysis, an overview

•Foucault

•Discourses through time

•Discourses that create versions of ‘truths’

•Effects of these discourses

•Discourses that use a basis of ‘common sense’

•Topics that are largely ignored

Carbine, J (2001). Unmarried motherhood 1830-1990: A genealogical analysis. In M. Wetherall, S. Taylor & S. Yates (Eds.) Discourse theory and practice: A reader (pp.267-274). London: Harvester Wheatsheaf

Text 1Text 1“Oral speech is the sole power that can rekindle the light God breathed into man when, giving him a soul in a corporeal body, he gave him also a means of understanding, of conceiving and expressing himself…. While, on the other hand, mimic signs are not sufficient to express the fullness of thought, on the other hand they enhance and glorify fantasy and all the faculties of the sense of imagination….The fantastic language of signs exalts the senses and foments the passions, whereas speech elevates the mind much more naturally, with calm, prudence and truth.”… Tarra ended by defying anyone to define in sign language the soul, faith, hope, charity, justice, virtue, the angels, God…”No shape, no image, no design,” Tarra concluded, “can reproduce these ideas. Speech alone, divine itself, is the right way to speak about divine matter.”

Lane, H. (1999). The mask of benevolence: disabling the Deaf community (2nd ed),(p 92) San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress.

Giulio Tarra quotes from congress of Deaf educators in Milan in 1880

Discourses identified in this text:•Divinity of spoken language – inferiority of sign language•Spoken Language as a gift from God•Sign Language and the people who used it as as animalistic•Sign Language as incomplete – a non-language•Homogenization •Legitimization of spoken language, delegitimization of signed languages.•Coercion •Linguicism•Attempted Linguistic genocide

Effects of this discourse, and of similar discourses from the time;

•Sign Language banned – linguistic oppression

•“Oralist” movement

•Education changes - Focus on English (spoken language) not other subjects

•Linguistic imperialism

•Negative stereotyping, otherisation and eugenics

•Shame through hegemonyA Deaf-Mute Community: Prof. Bell Suggests Legislation By Congress (Dec 1884). The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C02E3DD1F3BE033A25752C3A9649D94659FD7CF

Text 2Text 2This Bill is necessary. A lack of recognition of New Zealand Sign Language leads to serious barriers to information and services and therefore unacceptable injustices for Deaf people.It offers improved access to information and services that hearing people take for granted. It provides acknowledgement of Deaf peoples’ language and culture.New Zealand Sign language is part of our rich cultural diversity. Around 28,000 people, of whom 7,000 are Deaf, use it.It is a language native to our country. It has a unique linguistic structure and includes signs that express concepts from Maori culture.Deaf people comprise a distinct and dynamic cultural group in our country. Their language is central to their culture. Language and culture go hand in hand, and by our recognition of New Zealand Sign Language we give due recognition to Deaf Culture.

Dyson, R., (2006) New Zealand Sign Language Bill Third Reading Speech. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/25407

Discourses identified in this text:•New Zealand Sign Language as a valid, unique language

•Recognition of Deaf Culture

•Belonging to New Zealand

•Legitimization

•Non-essentialism

•Coercion

•Counter discourse to other mainstream discourses from 1880- mid-late 20th CenturyNew Zealand Office for Disability Issues. (n.d) New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from http://www.odi.govt.nz/what-we-do/nzsl/index.html

Effects of this discourse, and of similar discourses from the time;

•New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006

•Annual Sign Language Week

•Access to information for Deaf people

•Education – bilingual-bicultural

•Emergence of NZSL/Deaf culture curriculums

•Pride of NZSL and gradual public awareness

BibliographyBibliographyA Deaf-Mute Community: Prof. Bell Suggests Legislation By Congress A Deaf-Mute Community: Prof. Bell Suggests Legislation By Congress

(Dec 1884). (Dec 1884). The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from Retrieved October 4, 2009 from http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C02E3DD1F3BE033A25752C3A9649D94659FD7CF_r=1&res=9C02E3DD1F3BE033A25752C3A9649D94659FD7CF

Carbine, J (2001). Unmarried motherhood 1830-1990: A genealogical Carbine, J (2001). Unmarried motherhood 1830-1990: A genealogical analysis. In M. Wetherall, S. Taylor & S. Yates (Eds.) analysis. In M. Wetherall, S. Taylor & S. Yates (Eds.) Discourse Discourse theory and practice: A reader theory and practice: A reader (pp.267-274). London: Harvester (pp.267-274). London: Harvester WheatsheafWheatsheaf

Dyson, R., (2006) Dyson, R., (2006) New Zealand Sign Language Bill Third Reading New Zealand Sign Language Bill Third Reading Speech. Speech. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Retrieved October 2, 2008, from http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/25407http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/25407

Lane, H. (1999). Lane, H. (1999). The mask of benevolence: disabling the Deaf The mask of benevolence: disabling the Deaf community community (2nd ed),San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress(2nd ed),San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress

New Zealand Office for Disability Issues. (n.d) New Zealand Office for Disability Issues. (n.d) New Zealand Sign New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006Language Act 2006. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from . Retrieved October 4, 2009 from http://www.odi.govt.nz/what-we-do/nzsl/index.htmlhttp://www.odi.govt.nz/what-we-do/nzsl/index.html