著者

澁谷 智子

出版者

日本比較文学会

雑誌

比較文学 (ISSN:04408039)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.44, pp.69-81, 2002

---

<p> The concept of "Deaf Culture" recognizes the deaf as a linguistic minority who use sign language. In fact,some deaf describe themselves as "Deaf " with a capital "D," just as African Americans use the word "Black" to express their pride in being black. This concept questions the values of the hearing majority that are being taken for granted. Just as notions of "heterosexuality" have been created from the perspectives of "Gay Culture" the values of hearing society can be also relativized as "Hearing Culture."</p><p> In discussing the relationship between "Deaf Culture" and "Hearing Culture," this paper focuses in particular on the experience of people whose parents are deaf. These people are called "Coda" which stands for "Children Of Deaf Adults." Coda can hear physically but culturally are associated with the deaf. For example, some Coda acquire sign language as their first language. These Coda, who mediate between their parents and the hearing majority, have much in common with second generation of immigrants. Not only do they interpret languages but they also translate cultures and mitigate cultural conflict. However, mockery by and pity from hearing people make Coda feel embarrassed or inferior about their background. This sense of shame and low self-esteem can lead to a sense of guilt.</p><p> Through the analysis of autobiographies and essays of Coda, this paper tries to describe the cultural friction between the hearing and the deaf. By doing so, it also suggests that cultural borders are not always associated with nationality or geographic distribution.</p>