Why are deaf people referred to as deaf and dumb?

Question

me being a daughter of two deaf people I'm really confused on why people are like "oh so your deaf and dumb" it really cheeses me off as my mother is really quite bright and my dad is to.

also, why are hearing people really narrowminded about deaf people? i mean when my mum talks to a hearing person they're like " oh sorry what, i dont understand you" my mother speaks understandable so i dont understand why theyre being douchebags, and they also don't seem to think that deaf people might know the same amount as them.

Answer 1

"Dumb" is an old term for "mute" (as in, not able to speak.)

For instance, a common name for the plant Diffenbachia is "dumbcane" because if you eat it, it makes your tongue swell up and turn numb and you can't talk, so it's a cane that makes you dumb.

They don't mean dumb as in, stupid.

It's an old term, pretty much obsolete, since "dumb" doesn't exclusively mean "mute."

Besides, with sign language and computer programs that can read what you type out loud, most deaf people are able to communicate just fine.  Not all language is spoken.

Answer 2

I think it used to mean something different.

Answer 3

That phrase is from many, many years ago.  If people are using it NOW, they are the most ignorant and mean fockers and should live without their tongues.

One thing you mentioned was how people can't understand your mom, but your mom is understandable.  She may be understandable to you because you have been around her all your life, so you are used to how she speaks, but some people may truly have a difficult time.  I work in a call center and sometimes it is very difficult for me to make out words people with speech impediments or accents say.  So please do not take offense when people ask your mom to repeat herself.  But they should be more polite about it and not assume that she is ignorant or something.

Answer 4

when they say deaf and dumb it doesnt mean stupid it means that they cant speak. Obviously you would disagree cos you can understand what your mum says but thats quite likely to be cos youve grown up with her and understand her, to people who arent around deaf people on a dayly basis it can be quite difficult to understand-we dont mean to be rude! 'dumb' in this context does not mean thick, it's not suggesting that deaf people are stupid!

Answer 5

If they do, of course they're idiots.

I know for a fact that "deaf & dumb" is a very outdated form. This day & age uses the word "dumb" as stupid, so obviously there should be no reason to call a deaf person stupid. Very many of them were the most intelligent people. Not culturally Deaf but without hearing, Ludwig Van Beethoven was the brightest musical composer of all time. I know about Lawrence Clerc (sp?) the brightest teacher of the Deaf. I believe there was a university somewhere named after him. I took Deaf culture & community classes about 5 years ago. I to this day remember most sign language words, just havent been able to practice. :(

Answer 6

Its a very offensive term

I seriously dont think that a lot of people realise how offensive it is. It's just been used for so long now that it's common to hear it. What I would do is point it out to people how offensive it is & hopefully they'll realise & respect your wishes by not using it.

Not all hearing people are narrow-minded

Answer 7

They shouldn't be. Dumb means a person cannot speak.

Answer 8

Deaf and Dumb is the old expression for not being able to speak or hear, but most people tend to say Deaf/mute.

Answer 9

I think people who are uneducated use this term. The term deaf and dumb" to be somewhat disturbing since "dumb" was and is ambiguous, with its primary meanings being "lacking the ability to speak" and "lacking intelligence." The latter meaning has always been the more salient for me, which is the origin of my problem with it. It was hard not to think of this other meaning even after understanding that "dumb" meant "mute" in that linguistic context. Indeed, I suspect that the there was a time when persons who could neither hear nor speak were seen as dumb in the sense of "lacking intelligence."  

Answer 10

Most intelligent people realize that a deaf person is not dumb.

A truly ignorant/dumb person would believe something like that.

I am sure that your parents are very intelligent.

Ignore the idiot's.