The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) has reacted to the recent news coverage on Stanley and Diana Philander, a deaf couple who were mistakenly thought to have won the lottery, where various newspapers referred to them as “deaf and dumb” or “mute”.
The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) has reacted to the recent news coverage on Stanley and Diana Philander, a deaf couple who were mistakenly thought to have won the lottery, where various newspapers referred to them as “deaf and dumb” or “mute”.
DeafSA clarified what they considered to be “inaccurate and oppressive terminology” when referring to people who belong to the deaf community.
The word “dumb” is used to describe someone as stupid, clumsy, or foolish and according to DeafSA, this word is insulting and incorrect.
A press statement from DeafSA states: “As deaf people, we dislike these labels because they convey a negative attitude. The words ‘deaf and dumb’ do not connote pride or dignity.
These terms conjure an image of a person who is pitiful, pathetic, and dull-witted. The ‘deaf-mute’ label suggests that a deaf person is doomed to a life of silence, without speech and without hope.”
The organisation also found the word “mute” to be problematic: “Mutism” is a medical or psychological condition – the inability or refusal to produce sounds.
However, virtually all deaf persons are physically and psychologically normal in this area.They have vocal cords and voices, just as the vast majority of hearing people do.”
The association finds the term “deaf and dumb” annoying, imprecise and abusive. The International Federation of the Hard of Hearing, the World Federation of the Deaf and DeafSA have agreed that the terms “hearing-impaired” and “a person with a hearing loss” are also no longer acceptable and that “deaf” or “hard-of hearing” should be used in all references to people who are deaf.
