Page 87 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

72 Reading Between the Signs

ten down through generations. “...[In] all of the world outside of
the United States, a relationship without obligation is simply not
significant” (95).

Egalitarianism

Interestingly, egalitarian sentiments are strong among both Deaf
and hearing Americans. While there are glaring inequalities in
American life, egalitarian behavior—in such things as associating
with people who would be considered lower in class in other cul-
tures (for instance, inviting your servants to have dinner with you,
as Americans often do abroad, to the consternation of their host
nationals), readily engaging in manual labor, and chatting with
waiters and thanking them for their services—can be surprising if
not shocking to people from more hierarchical societies.
Deaf people are similarly egalitarian; for them the value origi-
nates from belonging to a linguistic/cultural minority. In the Deaf
community, one type of hierarchy that can be identified is a col-
lege education (usually at Gallaudet) versus “grass roots” or work-
ing class. Yet the shared experience of being Deaf forms a bond
of equality that cuts across social class. The goal of the commu-
nity is not to dwell on differences but to work together for the
good of all Deaf people. On a personal level, it is not unusual for
Deaf individuals of different “classes” to have a great deal in com-
mon. At a state residential school for the deaf, for example, an
administrator and a groundskeeper may have much to chat about
because they both attended the same school where they now work,
share many friends, and are on the same Deaf baseball team.
Their shared language, ASL, is a powerful equalizer, and it tran-
scends the variations in the details of their daily lives.

Personal Choice

As we stand in the breakfast cereal aisle of the supermarket trying
to decide which of the more than one hundred varieties to buy, it
may be hard to believe that many people in the world actually eat
the same thing for their breakfast every day. Freedom of choice—
which we have come to feel is an inalienable right—fuels our en-
tire economy, providing us with jobs to make more (and we hope
better) versions of products that we have plenty of already.

04 MINDESS PMKR 72 10/18/04, 11:25 AM