American And Australian Deaf Cultures Assignment Help

Review cultural contexts in Chapter 11 of the course text.

Consider the relationship between context and communication. How does your communication change based on where and to whom you are speaking? Why do you alter the way you communicate to fit the context in which you are speaking?

Select two of the three following contexts to focus on for this Discussion: educational, personal, and professional.

For each of the two contexts you selected above, ask yourself the following questions:

What language do you use?

How formal or informal is it?

Do you speak loudly or more softly?

Do you speak faster or more slowly?

What kinds of nonverbal communication behaviors do you use? Do you look someone in the eye? Use hand gestures? Change your facial expressions?

Reflect on how understanding context can help you overcome intercultural communication challenges. How can you apply this knowledge to future intercultural interactions that you may face?

Select two different communication contexts. Consider the communication style choices individuals would have in these two contexts:

Would they use a formal or informal style or register?

What nonverbal behaviors would be effective?

How would the communication be paced?

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Deaf cultures in both the countries have uniqueness in terms of the sign language they use. An American deaf culture uses American Sign Language to communicate and this is supposed to be a complex language (NIDCD, 2019). This culture aims to promote vision as the basic sense to communicate and encourage individuals to have access to necessary information. The culture encourages English education and bilingual American Sign Language to ensure competence. This language has certain behavioural rules where regular eye contact as well as visual attention is expected. To gain the attention of a person, a gentle tap or wave or flick of a light are some of the techniques used(NIDCD, 2019). The end of a conversation is usually represented with a visual indicator such as a facial expression or a pause. 

In the contrary, Auslan (Australian Sign Language) follows the grammar and vocabulary that are different from English. Unlike visual indicators used in American Sign Language, Auslan makes use of a number of hand shapes (NDP, 2015). There are over 38 hand shapes and about 28 variants in them to communicate with other. The orientation of hand and palm in association with the body is also an indicator for the listener to understand what the person tries to communicate. Movement, location of signs and expression are given emphasis in Auslan. 

When comparing both the languages, Auslan is complex and more formal than American Sign Language(NDP, 2015). With the wide presence of deaf community in the country, deaf community in Australia is encouraged to learn two-sign combinations at an early stage and this allows learning the language at an ease. There is a cultural association to the communication pattern used by the deaf community in America and Australia. Both give equal priorities to their cultures.