Last time I asked this question, people got the wrong idea and thought I was making fun of a deaf person, and that is not the case, I promise.
I'mn not trying to be rude or mean or anything, it's just a simple question.
If one is deaf, chances are they are mute too, correct? If that is the case, then how would they hear themselves think? Would they just picture sign language? Or could they some how hear themselves in their mind, but if they could hear themselves, why can they not just say it out loud then?
It's kind of like the questions "Can a blind person see their dreams", however this is with a deaf person listening to themselves, I've always wondered how they would do that and what would they hear if they can hear themselves. Would it be normal english like we speak outloud? But if that's the cause, surley they would be able to know how to say it right?
Again not trying to be mean, just curious.
See elryviel had a pretty good answer.
People automatically assume that I'm calling a deaf person dumb and that I"m saying their brain doesn't work, I guess I worded it wrong but I'm not saying that at all. From what I've seen every deaf person I've encountered did not speak, they just did sign language, and I assumed (I guess wrongfully so) that they were just mute, but according to eryviel they chose not to speak, if that's so then I can see HOW they think.
However if ones mute, can't speak at all, just sign language, no other language, no English, Chinese, Hindi or anything, what would they "hear" in their mind? When I speak in my mind I know I don't actually use any of my senses. but still I can "listen" to myself speak English, or any other language, what would a deaf person speak if he can't speak any language except sign?
1 comment… read it below or add one
If you ask something like this, you should SERIOUSLY consider phrasing the initial question differently. I clicked on it, prepared to get all angry psycho on your virtual butt, then realized that you had an actual question, so you get an actual answer.
A good number of Deaf people are NOT mute, and simply choose not to speak because they are uncertain of how they sound. Often they have trouble making certain sounds, and it sounds like a foreign accent to me. Some Deaf people speak perfectly, and you'd never know they couldn't hear you.
My friends say that they picture the words in their minds. After spending years immersed in sign language, I can see how visualizing the sign language is possible.