Page 58 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

Selected Topics in Intercultural Communication 43

Marlee Maitlin, the actor awarded an Oscar for her role
in Children of a Lesser God, took advantage of her as-
cribed deafness to get the role but later, when she ac-
cepted the Oscar, rejected the primary marker of a Deaf
identity, ASL/Sign, by speaking with her voice…thus,
intentionally or not, shaming and alienating the Deaf
Community. Some Deaf people began using a name
for her indicating her outsider status. She has subse-
quently chosen to adopt a more Deaf stance in public.
(29)

Loyalty to the group is an important characteristic of collectiv-
ism. One does not behave in a way that would bring disgrace to
the family. Nor does one betray or embarrass other members of
the group. “Deaf leaders rarely confront others directly in public.
If they are friends or care about the person, they do so in private”
(94–95).
In collectivist cultures (and minority groups) one is expected
to devote time and energy to promoting the welfare of the group.
The ideal Deaf person contributes to and supports the
community; they hold parties or sponsor events to bring
people together, to entertain, enlighten and to create
solidarity—spending much time socializing. They put
the welfare of the community higher than their own
immediate needs. (107)

Decision Making
Many cultural behaviors can be linked to and explained by the
collectivist/individualist divide, for example, decision making. In
individualist cultures, each person in a group is supposed to have
a separate and equal voice and is supposed to make up his or her
own mind independently when decisions are to be made. In col-
lectivist cultures like Japan, on the other hand, the group often
caucuses or negotiates before a formal vote is taken and agrees
by consensus upon a course of action that is in the best interest of
the group as a whole. Then a united front is presented at the for-
mal meeting. At a meeting of an organization with both Deaf and
hearing members, the Deaf members may tend to caucus to de-
cide together what position is best for the Deaf community at
large and then vote as a bloc. Hearing members of this group, if
not aware of the cultural dynamics, may judge such behavior as
weak-minded or collusive.

03 MINDESS PMKR 43 10/18/04, 11:22 AM