Introduction

What do you think about when you think of deafness? Does the word "disability" come to mind? Do you consider sign language to be a legitimate language for communication? Would you expect to have a verbal conversation with someone who is deaf? Based on the 2013 survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department, 155,200 people in Hong Kong suffer from hearing difficulty of which, approximately 4.8% are profoundly deaf (Centre for Health Protection [CHP], 2016). Despite these numbers and a multitude of research having been done on deafness and identity in Western societies, little has been uncovered in the context of Hong Kong which is lagging in terms of deaf awareness and education development.

According to Mullins (2009), "disability" is a powerful word that can shape one's perceptions on a particular group of people - especially to those who are considered as social minority, such as the Deaf Community. The word "disabled" wards them from the mainstream society by portraying them as "vulnerable", "handicapped", "useless", "weak", which may lead to further stereotypes on an ideological level, and trigger behavioral acts that may eventually cause them to be positioned unfairly in the society. Mullins states:

"It's not just about what we believe about people when we name them with these words. It's about the values behind the words, and how we construct those values. Our language affects our thinking and how we view the world and how we view other people. "

From here, we see that language should not merely be treated as a tool for communication, but also as a way to draw social boundaries, which in itself carries a certain level of embedded social values and ideologies. Mullins not only points out the consequences of characterizing a group of people as "disabled", but asks us to reflect upon the agency we have in constructing assigning identities.

Research & Significance

As mentioned, language is a crucial tool in the formation of one’s identity. It is frequently used to embody shared ideas that can unite a particular group of people but at the same time, create distance between one another. This research aims to address the notion of ‘disability’ and find out three things, namely:

1. How does the relationship between deafness and disability impact upon the identity of the Deaf community, both internally and externally?
2. What potential language obstacles and identity issues could the Hong Kong Deaf community encounter?
3. How do members of the Deaf community find social inclusiveness in both the mainstream community and the Deaf community?

As we dissect the components that combine to form the Deaf identity, we hope to gain a better understanding of how Deaf people position themselves within Hong Kong society and their social dynamics with the mainstream community. This will allow us to recognise and appreciate the subtle linguistic choices the Deaf make on a daily basis and better equip us to advocate for a more inclusive Hong Kong that is able to cater to the needs and desires of the Deaf community.