Deaf Literature: A Decolonizing Discussion

Luciano Ortiz Isis Lenoah Ortiz

Cecília Rafaelly de Oliveira Rutkoski

Introduction

Deaf literature refers to literary works created, adapted, or translated by deaf authors or hearing authors that address topics related to deaf culture and the experience of deafness. This form of literary expression has grown in recent decades as the deaf community in Brazil has organized and claimed its space in society. There is a growing number of deaf authors who create in Brazilian Sign Language - Libras or Portuguese. Many of them incorporate their experiences, perspectives, and reflections through poetry, short stories, essays, and novels. In this context, it plays a significant role in the lives of deaf people in various ways. It reflects deaf experiences, culture, and identity, promotes empowerment and connection within the deaf community, allows deaf individuals to express their identity and culture authentically, affirming their deaf identity, which is often shaped by a unique life experience, including the use of sign language. As an artistic and cultural manifestation, deaf literature is often marginalized and underestimated in a hearing-dominated society. This marginalization is exacerbated by the fact that most deaf literary works remain unknown and inaccessible to the general public. Furthermore, deaf literature is often approached from a colonizing perspective where deaf voices and perspectives are subjugated, diminishing the richness and diversity of this form of artistic expression. Therefore, the central problem to be addressed in this article is how deaf literature can be decolonized, recognized, and valued as an integral part of society's literary and cultural richness.