Czech Deaf in Internet |Discussions on Cochlear Implants: "we" and "they"

Abstract

In internet discussions (both in Czech and Czech Sign Language) on cochlear implants published by the Czech Deaf there is a distinctive boundary constituted between We (the deaf community) and They (the hearing majority). Both in intercultural communication (addressed to the hearing) and intracultural communication (within the community) there emerge cultural values bound to the Czech Deaf community, among which their own negative attitude towards the practice of cochlear implantation clearly stands out.

Keywords

• the Czech Deaf community
• electronic communication
• internet discussion
• cochlear implant
• intracultural communication
• intercultural communication