Signs for AUDISM

Defined as "The notion that one is superior based on one's ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears." -- Tom Humphries, 1977.

The English term "audism" is coined by Tom Humphries, 1977. It's becoming more common.

Semantic variation. This ASL sign was seen in a short video "Crack the Audism" produced by Jolanta Lapiak as a student in 2003. It also can be sometimes used as PHONOCENTRISM.

Related signs: LINGUICISM, SIGNOCLASM, HEARWASHING, CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, hearing PRIVILEGE

Deaf Culture and tidbits

Audism

Hearing students typically sign up for ASL courses, thinking they would learn the language only to be surprised in class that they also learn the culture of Deaf people. Culture and language go hand-in-hand. No ASL 101 course is complete without learning audism as a form of discrimination and the institutional or systemic form of audism.

Two great documentary videos for introducing ASL learners to audism are: "Audism Unveiled" (2003, Benjamin Bahan, H-Dirksen Bauman et al) and "Crack the Audism" (2003, student production by Jolanta Lapiak) which is available on this site. Audism Unveiled is commonly included in ASL 101 classes as part of the curriculum.

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