Deafness in the Arab World: a general investigation, with Lebanon as a case study
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2018
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Linguistics
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en
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Full copyright to this work is retained by the student author. It may only be used for non-commercial, research, and educational purposes. All other uses are restricted.
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Abstract
This investigation examines the causes and implications of deafness in the region known as the
Arab world. Deafness is present in Arab countries at rates far higher than those of North America
and Europe, and much of it is congenital in nature. Marriage between family members is a
common cultural practice throughout the Arab world, and the resulting consanguineous
reproduction is thought to be a leading genetic cause of deafness in offspring. Because deafness
is so prevalent in this region, a balanced perspective on it must come from several different
directions. I work toward this by exploring ethical concerns about the genetic risk associated
with consanguinity, discussing the presence of Arab sign languages, and characterizing the
current state of deaf Arab education. I then incorporate literature about the linguistic validity of
sign languages, and the idea that deafness can be considered a community-forming identity
rather than a disability. The thesis ends with a case study about Lebanon, an Arab nation whose
model for addressing issues associated with deafness might be useful for the needs of other Arab
countries .