The Paradox of Technology: A Case Study of the Impact of Modern Technology on a Linguistic Minority
Dr Carolyn Bullard, Andrea Scroggs.
Gaining access to modern culture is one of the benefits of technology. Yet minority groups do not always welcome new technologies. An examination of the impacts of technology on members of the Deaf culture can give some insight into that resistance. Deafness limits the access people have to spoken language. Many deaf people communicate using sign language. This has the effect of binding them together into a distinctive cultural group with many of the characteristics of a linguistic minority. The use of sign language provides deaf people a sense of identity, cultural integrity, and pride.
Limited knowledge of spoken language restricts the access deaf people have to many jobs and can make it difficult for organizations to effectively employ deaf people. Nonetheless, modern technologies such as computers and telephone relay systems have helped improve communication between deaf and hearing people. Generally deaf people do not see these technologies as threatening to Deaf culture. Recently, however, technology has provided a different kind of access to the hearing world. Cochlear implants have been developed. These are surgically implanted devices that allow a number of deaf people to hear well enough so they do not depend on sign language for communication. Implanted individuals often identify with the hearing community. This is a distinct threat to the Deaf community and has caused considerable resistance by members of the Deaf community to cochlear implants. This despite the fact that implants provide a number of deaf people access to spoken language that is not possible without the implant. Understanding the response of deaf people to cochlear implants can help educational and business organizations understand the resistance minority groups have to changes that are seen as threatening to the their culture.
Limited knowledge of spoken language restricts the access deaf people have to many jobs and can make it difficult for organizations to effectively employ deaf people. Nonetheless, modern technologies such as computers and telephone relay systems have helped improve communication between deaf and hearing people. Generally deaf people do not see these technologies as threatening to Deaf culture. Recently, however, technology has provided a different kind of access to the hearing world. Cochlear implants have been developed. These are surgically implanted devices that allow a number of deaf people to hear well enough so they do not depend on sign language for communication. Implanted individuals often identify with the hearing community. This is a distinct threat to the Deaf community and has caused considerable resistance by members of the Deaf community to cochlear implants. This despite the fact that implants provide a number of deaf people access to spoken language that is not possible without the implant. Understanding the response of deaf people to cochlear implants can help educational and business organizations understand the resistance minority groups have to changes that are seen as threatening to the their culture.
Presenters
Dr Carolyn Bullard
(United States)
Professor
Graduate School of Education, Department of Educational Administration
Lewis and Clark College
Graduate School of Education, Department of Educational Administration
Lewis and Clark College
Dr.Bullard has been a professor in the field of education since 1972. For many years she specialized in preparing teachers of the deaf. She also served as Dean of the Graduate School. Her primary publications have been in the area of language development.
Andrea Scroggs
(United States)
Student
Special Education
Lewis and Clark College
Special Education
Lewis and Clark College
Keywords
- Impact of technology
- Linguistic minority
(30 min Conference Paper,
English)