before you write that fanfic featuring a deaf character, pls do your research
hearing people have a lot of misconceptions about asl and what it means to be deaf. although i am a hearing person, i’ve taken two years of asl, and i have a deaf buddy, so when i come across a fanfic featuring a deaf character, i’m often disappointed in what i find. so i just want to remind you guys to do some research about asl and being deaf before you start on that juicy new sameileen fic. there’s a lot to asl and being deaf, but i feel like these are the most important things to know, and this can serve as a springboard into your new education. it’s not just about the signs themselves, guys!!
asl is not a derivative of english!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! asl has its own rules and grammar that are completely different than english. learn more here and here’s a good start for asl grammar
although signed english (se) is a thing, but it’s usually for beginners. someone who has been practicing asl for quite a while usually won’t talk in se, okay? learn more about asl sentence structure here
additionally, most experienced signers don’t actually stare at the hands of the person they’re talking with. most of them keep eye contact and watch the signs in their peripheral vision. in asl, expression is just as important as the signs themselves. learn more here
deaf ppl are not mute! there’s this thing called mouthing that’s really important in signing. also, deaf ppl are not dumb. there’s a college for deaf people called gallaudet in washington dc.
learn about deaf culture!!!!!! it’s hella interesting. one thing i’ve noticed in most deaf fanfics is that the deaf character hardly ever has any deaf friends. this is fairly unrealistic. after all, you want a place where you belong, right? that’s what fandom is too - it’s a culture. the same way you want to find and be with people who share your interest, deaf people want to find and be with deaf people. there are many communities around just for deaf people!!
most deaf people who have been deaf all (or for most) of their life don’t care to ever experience what it’s like to hear. the moment in your fanfic when your deaf character says “i wish i could hear your voice” is hella unrealistic, and it’s hella unromantic ):
Important things to consider:
did the character grow up oral-only, mixed oral and ASL (so like learning ASL but also doing speech therapy), or ASL only? Did they learn ASL later in life and have a harder time getting into the Deaf Community?
Did your character go to a Deaf Institute or were they mainstreamed? Did they go to a Deaf program/school (in modern America we’ve got CSUN out West, Gallaudet and NTID @ RIT out East most notably) for college or a mainstream program with an interpreter?
Is their family Deaf or hearing? How did that affect their culture and quality of communication growing up? Did their family learn ASL? Did they impose excessive corrective measures?
What level of hearing do they have and what caused their level of deafness? Illness? Hereditary causes? Can they hear a little or a lot? What kinds of sounds?
How does their race, time period, or geographic area affect their signing? How does their personality affect their signing? Is it freer? Do they make up a lot of signs (home signs)?
How and when and with whom do they use the voice? Do they sign and talk at the same time (hard of hearing people usually)? Do they use it for emphasis? For clarity? Out of fear or annoyance? Btw DEAF PEOPLE LAUGH AUDIBLY.
Do they fit in with their hearing or d/Deaf peers? Level of hearing, ease of communication, family background, age (younger people can sometimes be cliquish), schooling, and other things can factor in.There’s a bunch more, but these are some things most people don’t think about.
