static-noise-notes

[static-noise-notes]

How to Write Deaf Characters - From a real Deaf person’s perspective

Hello readers and writers alike, I would like to point out something that has been so glaringly annoying to me and other Deaf/HoH people so that we can end all these misconceptions. People who write for Deaf!Readers should know a few things before starting their imagines, fanfictions, blurbs - anything. It is not anyone’s fault for not knowing these things, most hearing people are not aware of the Deaf community or Deaf culture so here I am, a Deaf person who is majoring in Deaf Studies and Culture, coming here to tell you a few things to know when writing for a Deaf!Reader

(Remember this is my experience as a Deaf/HoH person and it may differ from person to person but this is what I learned/have slight annoyances within writing)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a culture. Yes, most people consider it a disability but IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE ASHAMED OF! Please stop writing fics/imagines about Deaf!Reader being ashamed of not being able to hear or getting hearing aids to impress their SO. It’s completely wrong and just annoying. We are proud of our Deafness and we don’t want to be fixed.

DO NOT USE THE TERM ‘HEARING IMPAIRED’! This is basically a slur word. It was widely used in the ’90s but now it’s considered a derogatory term. Just use Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Or ‘deaf’ if the person is medically deaf and not culturally Deaf. (see next point)

Deaf and ‘deaf’ are different. Deaf is a cultural term for people who are born Deaf and raised in the community. The term ‘deaf’ is used in the medical field or used to describe someone who has hearing loss that does not associate with the Deaf Community. Usually, a hearing person who has become deaf later on.

Sign language is not a worldwide language. There are different types of language within sign language. ASL is for American and Canada. BSL is for Britain. So if you’re writing a story that takes place in a country that is not America or Canada, do not say ASL.

ASL does not = English. Same for every other language. ASL is its own language with grammar rules and semantics. It does not directly translate to English. So if you’re writing ASL most likely write in GLOSS or write it as you would write a hearing character. (Sentance: I want to go to the mall and buy a dress. GLOSS: I WANT WANT GO TO MALL I. ME BUY DRESS ME )

Deafness is on a spectrum. There is a legal threshold that someone must pass to be considered legally Deaf. Some Deaf people can hear more than others. I can hear high pitched noises sometimes. I know someone who can hear voices but can not hear what they are saying. Both of us are Deaf and we both cross that threshold. So when writing your Deaf!Character make sure to set a bar of what they can and can not hear.

Hearing Aids do not cure anyone’s deafness. It only helps hear some sounds and maybe hear if people are talking. Not what they are saying although it can help with that depending on how far they are on the Deaf scale.

Cochlear Implants are very controversial in the Deaf Community so if you’re going to write about them do your research!!! They are also not a cure for Deafness, just an aid.

Deaf people are not masters at lipreading! Even the best lip readers can only make sense of 30% of what is being said. I’ve been lip reading for years and I still only understand a little bit of what is being said. So no, your character is not going to miraculously know what’s going on from lip reading.

DO NOT have your characters yell at your Deaf characters. DOES NOT MATTER HOW LOUD YOU ARE! We can not hear you. Neither can your character. Have your other hearing characters speak normally. That’s the best way to lip read if they must.

Most Deaf people are born from hearing parents. It’s really rare for a whole entire family to be Deaf (Although I’ve met some and it’s super cool). But your character is probably born to hearing parents.

ALSO, the majority of hearing families with Deaf children do NOT learn ASL. It sucks but it’s true. Only about 30-40% of families learn sign for their Deaf family members. So keep it in mind,

So this is my list for now! I may add to it the more I think about things but this is basics I think everyone should know. If I forgot some then feel free to add! (as long as you are knowledgeable about the topic please). If you have questions please message me! Or if you need someone to proofread your Deaf!Imagines then I almost here for that. So happy writings everyone!

ILY

[static-noise-notes]

 Hey btw, another worldbuilding thing: You can, and actually should have weird and impractical cultural things. They’re not inherently unrealistic, for as long as you address the realistic consequences as well.

 Let’s say you’ve got a city where there’s tame white doves everywhere. They’re not pests, they’re regarded as sacred, holy protectors of the city, and the whole city cares for them and feeds them like they’re pets. They’re so tame because it’s a social taboo to hurt or scare one. Nice pretty doves :)

 Then someone points out that even if they’re not seen as pests, doesn’t having a completely unchecked feral pigeon population - that not only isn’t being culled, but actively fed and cared for - mean that there would be bird shit absolutely all over the place?

 A part of you wants to say no, because these are your nice, pretty doves. To explain that there’s a reason why they’re not shitting all over the place, maybe they’re super-intelligent and specifically bred and trained to not shit all over the place. The logistics of how, exactly, could anyone breed and train a flock of feral birds go unaddressed.

 An even worse solution would be to not have those birds, editing them out of the world. No, they spark joy, you can’t just toss them out!

 Now, consider: Yes, yes they would, but the city also has an extensive public sanitation service that’s occupied 90% of the time by cleaning bird shit off of everything. One of the most common last names in the area actually translates to “one who scrapes off dove shit”, and it’s a highly respected occupation. And thanks to the sheer necessity of constantly regularly cleaning everything, the city enjoys a much higher standard of cleanliness, and less public health issues caused by poor public sanitation.

 The doves do protect the city. By shitting fucking everywhere.

[static-noise-notes]

Tag gathering post

[static-noise-notes]

Can the sentient species of your world interbreed? If so, what do hybrids look like? What biological or social consequences do they experience because of their hybrid status?

[static-noise-notes]

Do any gods of your world have a physical, tangible form?

[static-noise-notes]

Say I were a citizen in your setting and I wanted to obtain a defence weapon, what kinds would be available to purchase or trade for? Would I need one in the first place? Are they similar or very different from a military version? And if they were outlawed, why?

[static-noise-notes]

friendly reminder!!! when researching mental disorders and conditions, or literally anything thats a disabilty/condition/disorder thats mental/physical/neurological/etc, FIND PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE IT!! FIND THE COMMUNITY. Like, it’s not that hard, just search it up on tumblr or something and most of the time you’ll probs find a community of people. this is really good for actually understanding the affects and intricacies, and other less know facts on the conditions that you might not find on the first page of google.

also, its very obvious when you dont research this. its obvious when your only source is webmd. please listen to the voices of people actually affected by this stuff. i dont care if your writing an angsty fanfiction or a full ass novel just… have good representation. 

[static-noise-notes]

the politics of light and dark are everywhere in our vocabulary…psa to writers: subvert this, reveal whiteness and lightness as sometimes artificial and violent, and darkness as healing, the unknown as natural

[static-noise-notes]

[static-noise-notes]

peak fantasy environment designs:

floaty islands

glowing mushrooms

bigger versions of normal animals

animalistic dragons

deep, sentient forests

sky/space whales

[static-noise-notes]

the best thing you will see all year

[static-noise-notes]

Know your horns!

(From Keith and Clothilde Sutton’s Pictorial Dictionary.)

[static-noise-notes]

the politics of light and dark are everywhere in our vocabulary…psa to writers: subvert this, reveal whiteness and lightness as sometimes artificial and violent, and darkness as healing, the unknown as natural

[static-noise-notes]

Nightlights

The Snowmade on Etsy

See our #Etsy or #Nightlights tags

[static-noise-notes]

[static-noise-notes]

you know that "memes for a piece of media that doesn't exist" post? i think we should all start doing that for our OCs with absolutely no context who's with me

[static-noise-notes]

things you can use in place of cultural monsters

Can't use golems in your fantasy world because they're beings that belong to Judaism and you aren't Jewish? Try using elementals!

Can't use w*nd*goag in your story because they're monsters from Native beliefs and you aren't Native? Try wraiths or forest spirits!

Can't use Skinwalkers, either? How about changelings, The Thing-type aliens or faeries?

Don't want to use Christian biblical angels? Try eldritch monstrosities from another world.

Don't want to namedrop La Llorona, Hachisukisama or the Cupecabrah? How about old-fashioned undead, zombies or ghosts?

Just because certain supernatural beings are only for certain groups, doesn't mean you have to limit your monsters! There's plenty of demographic-neutral alternatives to famous creatures that you can use without culturally appropriating or disrespecting people's beliefs.