Did you know that sign language, like spoken language, is not universal? Egyptian Sign Language, the most commonly used type of sign language in Egypt, differs from other international sign languages. The universality of sign language is one of the misconceptions that a new workshop offered by the School of Continuing Education, Basics of Egyptian Sign Language, aims to address.
The workshop equips participants with basic sign language skills, enabling them to communicate effectively with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, promoting inclusivity and accessibility. Maged Habashy, director of the Languages Department at SCE, said, “This workshop can benefit anyone - AUC faculty, educators, healthcare professionals, customer service agents and more.” The workshop is currently training 180 customer service agents on sign language in collaboration with a French company running the Cairo Light Rail Transit between Cairo and the New Administrative Capital.
“The sign language workshop at AUC was a remarkable experience for me. It added a lot to my understanding of deaf culture and the needs of the deaf in communications,” said participant Wafaa Shoukry. In addition to linguistic skills, the workshop highlights the culture of people who are deaf and addresses several misconceptions, including the notion that they are intellectually challenged or unable to participate in society. The first part of the workshop is dedicated to correcting such misunderstandings and exploring the need for sign language skills in the Egyptian community.
Offered in AUC Tahrir Square, the workshop kicks off by training participants to sign the Arabic alphabet and greetings, as well as vocabulary relating to family, professions, religion, governorates and countries. Participants also learn to sign adjectives that express different emotions, allowing them to maintain conversations with people who are deaf using complete sentences.
As interest grows, SCE plans to offer an advanced Egyptian Sign Language course in the future.
Read also: Egyptian Adventure
Deaf culture is unique as it’s not bound to any country or nation, and relies on visual communication and expression. It’s a culture with its own language and values, with a strong sense of community and identity. It’s distinct from spoken languages and has its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. It’s important to remember that sign languages (regardless of country) are not a signed version of any spoken language; they are unique.
For example, the sentence “I’m going to the store” is different in ASL, which would be signed as “Store I go.” ASL is a rich and expressive language. Using ASL requires not just using manual signs but using expression of the whole body through facial expressions and gestures. This is essential for effective communication.
Clear communication and accessibility are highly valued in deaf culture. This includes the use of sign language interpreters, captioning services, and other accommodations to ensure that deaf people can fully participate in mainstream society.
Rules of behavior commonly followed in the deaf community
What’s considered polite in the deaf community may not be so in hearing society. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Use eye contact. This shows the deaf person you’re engaged in the conversation.
- Be direct. Deaf people are known for being direct so they appreciate the same from hearing people. Don’t mistake this for rudeness; this means not wasting the other person’s time with wishy-washy language.
- Use your body to express yourself. A deaf person understands the context through reading your facial expressions and body language. If you’re stone-faced, that’s unhelpful and confusing.
- Get personal, if you dare. You don’t need to air your dirty laundry but sharing some personal tidbits helps the deaf person to get comfortable with you. We tend to be upfront about our own personal lives!
- Pointing during conversation is normal for deaf people, and is part of using ASL.
Deaf identity and community are central to deaf culture. There’s a sense of pride in one's deafness, and a shared culture. This identity is often shaped by experiences at deaf schools, involvement in deaf organizations, and participation in social events.
Read also: Learn Arabic in Egypt: Guide
Having this strong connection within a relatively small group that shares ASL as the common language serves as a balm while navigating a hearing world. Deaf schools also play an important role in fostering deaf identity and community. These schools provide not only education, but also a sense of community where deaf kids can share common interests and develop strong bonds.
Deaf culture has a rich tradition of art, literature, and media that reflects the unique experiences and perspectives of deaf people. Deaf artists, such as painter Chuck Baird and sculptor Douglas Tilden, have made significant contributions to the art world, often including themes related to deaf culture and identity.
Learn to Ancient Egyptian – Lesson 4: Signs, Dependent Pronouns & Adjectives #ancientegypt
Here are some notable deaf people with major contributions to the art, literature, and media worlds.
- Ella Mae Lentz: A poet, educator, and advocate best known for her ASL poetry.
- Clayton Valli: Poet and ASL linguist scholar.
- Nyle DiMarco: Model, actor, and activist who has appeared in America’s Next Top Model and Dancing With the Stars.
- Marlee Matlin: The first deaf actress to win an Academy Award (for Children of a Lesser God). She’s appeared in many TV shows and films.
- Sean Forbes: Deaf rapper who co-founded D-PAN, the Deaf Professional Arts Network.
- Phyllis Frelich: First deaf actor to win a Tony Award.
- Sara Novic: Author, activist, and creative writing professor.
- Christine Sun Kim: Sound and performance artist.
The history of deaf education has been marked by controversy. In the late 19th century, oralism, which teaches deaf people to speak and lip read, was seen to suppress ASL and focus more on fitting into hearing society. Today, bilingual education, which emphasizes both sign language and written/spoken language, is widely recognized as a more inclusive approach to deaf education.
Deaf people come from all walks of life and much of their experience of deaf culture depends on their upbringing. Since most deaf people are born to hearing parents, many are mainstreamed. Being mainstreamed as a deaf person means learning alongside your hearing peers, sometimes with a sign language interpreter.
Read also: Clothing in Ancient Egypt
Mainstreaming of deaf children is intended to provide equitable education and development of social skills. Full inclusion means spending all day in a hearing classroom, with assistance provided (ASL interpreter). Partial inclusion means spending part of the day in the hearing classroom, and the rest of the day outside the classroom, with additional support.
However, a mainstream education often leads to isolation. For mainstream education to be successful, deaf students may need additional support and accommodations such as ASL interpreters, notetakers, and assistive technology (closed captioning).
Although the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, deaf people still face challenges in the workforce. While many are highly skilled and capable, they often encounter barriers to employment, such as lack of accommodations, poor communication, and general misconceptions about deafness.
In 2017, more than 53% of deaf people ages 25-64 were employed, while nearly 79% of hearing people were employed. Advocacy organizations, such as the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and CSD Works, help to address these challenges and promote equal employment opportunities for deaf people.
Learning about its history and language can help you gain a deeper understanding of this underrepresented group.
American Sign Language Alphabet
Popular articles:
tags: #Egypt
