Deaf-mute

For "deafness", seeHearing loss.

For "deaf" as a cultural term, seeDeaf culture.

For "inability to speak", seemuteness.

Deaf-muteis a term which was used historically to identify a person who was either deaf and usedsign languageor bothdeafandcould not speak.The term continues to be used to refer to deaf people who cannot speak anoral languageor have some degree of speaking ability, but choose not to speak because of the negative or unwanted attention atypical voices sometimes attract. Such people communicate usingsign language.Some consider it to be a derogatory term if used outside its historical context; the preferred term today is simplydeaf.

Historical usage ofdeaf-muteand other terms

United Kingdom

In 19th-century British Englishmuteanddumbmeant 'non-speaking', and were not pejorative terms. For example, in 1889Queen Victoriainstigated theRoyal Commission on The Blind, the Deaf and Dumb etc. in the United Kingdom.The intention was to examine contemporary education and employment of blind or deaf people, with a view to improving conditions for them.TheOxford English Dictionarystates that the North American pejorative usage of the word to imply stupidity was first noted in the UK in 1928.According to the OED,deaf-mutewas coined in the early 19th century as a medical term for an inability to speak as a consequence of deafness. There is no mention of offensiveness of this term in the UK.

North America

The primary definition ofdumbinWebster's Dictionaryis "lacking intelligence" or "stupid". Its second definition of the word is "lacking the ability to speak... now often offensive".Webster's definition of "mute", on the other hand, gives the adjectival meaning as "unable to speak", whereas one of its usages as a noun is "a person who cannot speak... sometimes offensive".

In informal American English the termdumbis sometimes used to refer to other hearing people in jest, to chide, or to invoke an image of someone who refuses to employ common sense or who is unreliable.In the pastdeaf-mutewas used to describe deaf people who used sign language, but in modern times, the term is frequently viewed today as offensive and inaccurate.From antiquity (as noted in theCode of Hammurabi) until recent times, the termsdeaf-muteanddeaf and dumbwere sometimes considered analogous tostupidby some hearing people.The simple identity ofdeafhas been embraced by thecommunity of signing deaf peoplesince the foundations of publicdeaf educationin the 18th century and remains the preferred term of reference or identity for many years. Within the deaf community there are some who prefer the termDeaf(upper-case D) todeaf(lower-case) as a description of their status and identity.

Jewish law

Classification as a deaf-mute has a particular importance inJewish law.Because historically it was thought impossible to teach or communicate with them, deaf-mutes were notmoral agents,and therefore were unable to ownreal estate,act aswitnesses,or be punished for any crime. However, today when techniques for educating deaf people are known, they are no longer classed as such.

Deaf-mute people in history

TheOttoman Sultansused people referred to as "congenital deaf-mutes" (called in Turkishdilsizorbizeban,i.e. 'mute' or 'without tongue') in their ownpersonal servicefrom the 15th century to theend of the Ottoman Empire.Due to their nature, they were often entrusted with confidential and delicate missions, including executions.

Deaf-muteness in art and literature

Stephen King's novelThe Standfeatures a main character named Nick Andros who is referred to as "deaf-mute." Though deaf people almost always have a voice, King interpreted the term literally and made Nick unable to vocalize. However, he couldread lipsand make himself clearly understood by pantomiming and in writing.

The phrase is used inThe Catcher in the Ryeto indicate someone who does not speak his mind, and hears nothing, in effect becoming isolated from the world.

Chief Bromden, inOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,is believed by all to be deaf and mute, but in fact he can hear and speak; he does not let anyone know this because, as he grew up, he was not spoken to (making him "deaf" ) and ignored (making him "mute" ).

The character Singer in the novelThe Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,written in 1940, is referred to as "deaf-mute" throughout.

In the classicZorrostories, television series, etc. Zorro's aid Bernardo, a mute, pretends that he can also not hear, in order to get information to aid his master in his fight for justice.

In the early87th Precinctnovels written byEd McBain,Teddy Carella, the wife of Detective Steve Carella, was referred to as a "deaf-mute," but in later books, McBain stopped using the term. In the foreword to a reprinted edition ofThe Con Man,originally published in 1957, McBain says, "A reader pointed out to me two or three years ago that this expression was now considered derogatory. Out the window it went, and Teddy is now speech-and-hearing impaired."

External links

• Large, Alfred (1878)."Deaf and Dumb".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. VII (9th ed.). pp. 3–12.
• Payne, Arnold Hill (1911)."Deaf and Dumb".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 7 (11th ed.). pp. 880–894.