Page 110 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

American Deaf Culture 95

In American hearing culture we are not supposed to gossip or
talk about others behind their backs, but of course, almost every-
one does anyway. The trick is not to admit it. This leads to a cul-
tural quandary for me. Since in Deaf culture it is expected that
people will talk about what’s happening in other people’s lives,
“talking behind one’s back” does not carry a negative connota-
tion. In fact, if there were a major development in someone’s life
and it were not discussed, that would be even more insulting. My
quandary occurs when I bump into a Deaf friend who is looking
glum. I ask her, “What’s wrong?” and she replies, “I’m getting a
divorce, haven’t you heard?” To be polite in Deaf culture, I should
answer yes, but it is hard for me to get over the hearing taboo
against gossiping. It feels more polite to say no and let her tell me
all about it; but then my Deaf friend might assume (since we share
the same circle of friends) that it would have been impossible for
me not to have heard the news. Therefore, she might surmise that
what I heard were negative comments about her. In order to avoid
this erroneous assumption, I should answer honestly. If I truly
have not heard the news when it seems that I should have, an
explanation would be in order, for example, “No. I didn’t hear
about it. Sorry. I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t socialized much.”
If there is value in sharing information, it follows that with-
holding information is considered rude. If a Deaf person who works
as a relay or intermediary interpreter in the courts (see pages
168–69 for a full description of this role) happens to notice two
Deaf people at a party having a disagreement about the proce-
dures followed in traffic court, it would be appropriate to let them
know that that person has some knowledge of the subject. The
ticklish issue is that in conveying such information one must not
appear to put oneself above others because of having it. If a gradu-
ate of Gallaudet University, for example, attends a meeting of a
community organization and is struck by the lengthy and seem-
ingly inefficient manner in which the meeting is run, he or she
will have to weigh carefully the decision whether to interrupt and
offer advice. A statement such as “At Gallaudet we ran much bet-
ter meetings, let me show you how” will probably be met with
more hostility than openness. Recent graduates of Gallaudet have
a reputation for their “know it all” attitude. Older Gallaudet grads
seem to have learned that discretion is the better part of wisdom.
To withhold the very fact that one can sign may also be seen
as rude. It is impolite to watch a signed conversation if the people

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