21st century sign language threats

21ST CENTURY SIGN LANGUAGE THREATS

Even though there have been significant advances in the technology and design aspects in the field of sign language community and architecture, there has been rising threats to its decline in the language, thereby making it a possibility where there could be a decline in the deaf community and hence it’s respective architecture design features. 5

The eugenic drive to become a normal part of the society has led some of the members of the community to submit themselves to the technologies, which results in the decreasing number of the community. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Another question is raised – “Why should the deaf and their language continue to exist?”. As mentioned in the Oxford handbook, how can one indeed argue to remain in preserving the community that was mostly considered as a disability by the hearing majority? This is a continuously raised by the common hearing parents, genetic counsellors in different medias and blogs. biomedical interventions in lectures, theatrical productions, community forums globally.

The use of cochlear implants could be considered as a risk according to Micheal Chorost in his autobiography. Thousands of people make irrational decisions, by plummeting themselves into this wave of computational technique to solve hear loss.

Trevor Johnston, who published an article,’ Whither the Deaf Community’, have cautioned the readers that the rate of cochlear implantations, up to 75% and the genetic implementations are to avoid any deaf at birth and bring a decline to the community within half of a lifetime! 6

Even though Johnston’s statements are true, a cochlear implant does not cure a hear loss, it triggers an audio signal towards the inner side of the ear to indicate a form of hearing.

It is a matter to debate, indeed, if the decline of deaf culture is to be looked upon as a positive or negative aspect, in the future. The extinct of sign language that was developed, in a unique manner, by the great deaf legends, would be a shame. Whereas the decrease in the number of deaf people, could be observed as an undeniably positive insight.

5 The Oxford Handbook of Deaf studies, Language and Education; p,213 6 The Oxford Handbook of Deaf studies, Language and Education; p,214