Meaning & use
deaf culture
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Meaning
noununcountable
The shared customs, language, and identity of people who are deaf, especially sign language users.
Grammar: Uncountable: say 'deaf culture' not 'a deaf culture' when referring to the general concept.
Patterns
- deaf culture
- in deaf culture
- part of deaf culture
Deaf culture values visual communication and shared sign language.
Many universities now offer courses on deaf culture and history.
She wrote her thesis on the role of storytelling in deaf culture.
Common combinations
- deaf culture and history
- The museum exhibit covers deaf culture and history.
- a member of the deaf community
- He is a proud member of the deaf community.
- study deaf culture
- She went to Gallaudet to study deaf culture.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Deaf community
- Deaf community focuses on the people; deaf culture focuses on their shared customs and identity.
Word family
- deaf adjective
- Unable to hear, either partly or completely.
- deafness noun
- The condition of being deaf.
Commonly confused: deaf culture or deaf community?
deaf culture vs deaf community
The deaf community is the group of people; deaf culture is the customs, language, and identity they share.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'deaf culture' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses the uncountable noun correctly. Option 1 wrongly adds 'a'; option 2 treats it as a countable group of people; option 3 uses it as an adjective for a person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deaf culture”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.