The tool I used translated the English word "deaf" as "taub" in German. However, an About visitor wrote:
Gehoerlos people in Germany prefer that they be called gehoerlos not taub. Taub is seen as vulgar in Germany. German people condescend this word "taub" and it is used in such as "What are you deaf?"
Sign Language in Germany
Sign language translated as "bearing language" with the tool. German Sign Language (Deutsche Gebärdensprache), has only fairly recently been recognized as a legitimate language in Germany.Germany has companies such as the Signum publishing house (www.signum-verlag.de), which publishes sign language learning material. Another publisher is Karin Kestner, www.kestner.de, a publisher and retailer of sign language books and sign language software.
There is also an Institute of German Sign Language and Communication of the Deaf, based at Hamburg University (www.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de/English.html). The Institute's activities include:
- working on sign language dictionaries
- working on sign language linguistics
- producing CD software for learning sign
- producing a notation (font?) system for sign language, HamNoSys
German Deaf and Hard of Hearing Associations
Deutscher Gehorlosen-BundA primary deaf organization is the German Deaf Association (www.gehoerlosen-bund.de). It is the successor to the Federation of Gehorlosen Germany (REGEDE). The German Deaf Association is now approximately 80 years old and has 26 chapters (there is a map of regional chapters with contact information).
The German Deaf Association appears to serve as an umbrella organization for organizations such as the Federation of Catholic Deaf Germany, an association of sign language teachers, and an association of interpreters.
Finally, the GDA website has general deafness information, advice for hearing people, and sign language information.
Deutsche Gesellschaft
Another primary organizatin is the German society of hearing impaired self help and professional associations (www.deutsche-gesellschaft.de). This organization, in existence since 1962, appears to be for hard of hearing Germans but I can not tell for sure. It has 22 regional federations. At the time I visited the website, they appeared to be trying to set up an organization for hearing impaired youth (like our Jr NAD).
Exploring the DG site, I observed the following highlights:
- sign language alphabet
- information on subtitled films
- information on German telecommunications law. Telesign is a German video relay service (not clear if it exists yet). Tess is the regular relay service.
- updates on newborn hearing screening
- press releases
- legal rights (antidiscrimination and disability laws)
Deutscher Schwerhorigenbund
A large self help organization is www.schwerhoerigen-netz.de. It is the German Schwerhörigenbund registered association (DSB), and it is quite old, dating back to 1901. There are regional and local chapters all over Germany. Their website is quite comprehensive. Just a sampling of what is on their website:
- Original poems by deaf/hoh Germans
- Original columns by columnists
- Information on church services
- Book reviews including an original German book for teens, "Sound Check," about a deaf teen girl.
Cochlear Implants, Interpreters, and Sports
Cochlear Implant Users in GermanyCochlear implant users have the German Cochlear Implant society (Deustche Cochlear Implant Gesellschaft, www.dcig.de). It is a member of the European Association of Cochlear Implant Users. Germany also has regional cochlear implant associations, for example, in Berlin and Bavaria. Deafbase.de also has a list of cochlear implant organizations.
Interpreters in Germany
The main intepreting organization in Germany is the BGSD (www.bgsd.de). The BGSD site has a list of regional federations, and information on interpreter training and certification.
Deaf Sports in Germany
There is a German Deaf Sports Federation. The website www.dg-sv.de is a German deaf sports site. It has deaf sport news, a calendar, and information on what looks like a deaf youth sports camp.
Deaf Websites in Germany
A deaf web portal is www.taubenschlag.de, which links to outside sites and also hosts some original content. Highlights of this site and linked sites include:- movies, tv (deaftv.de - has news and information on subtitled or interpreted programming/DVDs and movies about deafness. There is an original German film, "The Last Deaf," about the last deaf person. Companies in Germany that do subtitling include Titelbild, Untertitel, and Vicomedia.
- technology
- deaf news (www.deafworldweb.de)
- comics (original German deaf comic strips)
- sign language video (www.dgs-filme.de)
- cochlear implant information
- hearing aids, for example GN REsound (www.gnresound.de)
- interpreting information (service agencies, training centers, associations)
- deaf theatre - www.deaf-theater.de
- deaf movies - movies about deafness (mostly american translated into german)
- travel (museums, etc) around germany
- deaf studies information
- articles and doctoral papers that can be downloaded. A particularly interesting one was titled (loosely translated) "Deaf Culture - A subcultural approach tons of Deaf Communities in America and Germany."
- discussion forum - www.gehoerlose.de
- late deafened people in Germany seem to be served by the site www.spaetertaubt.de
- an event calendar
Another deaf portal site is www.deafbase.de, which functions as an online directory complete with addresses. There is a partial English language version, and it has listings in categories such as counseling, education, interpreting, and organizations.
Still another general deafness site is www.visuelles-denken.de, with basic deafness information, a sign alphabet, basic information for parents, and lessons on communicating with deaf people. Finally, the site deaflink.de is a master database of deaf German links.
