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The Eighth Letter: My Sign Language, My Mother Tongue

I actually learned speech therapy in Wonosobo. We have a strict rule about communication where if you're in the classroom, you have to communicate with hearing teachers to use speech therapy without sign language. Sign language is prohibited in the classroom. So, we've banned learning sign language in the classroom. If you dare to use sign language in the classroom, you will get punished by the teacher. Your hand will be hit. I ever hit and injured my hand.

Then, where were you learning sign language? Yeah, I was learning sign language by my Deaf friends in out of school or after lesson time. Usually, we shall be communicating sign language with them. That's Indonesian sign language (BISINDO) with the Wonosobo accent. Sometimes, we also communicate with oral method same like speech therapy. 

How to process learn speech therapy if you want to know? Honestly, it hurts and tortures. You can watch that video about how to process learn speech therapy. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqdnSBaX5o0

I once asked my teacher, "Why did Deaf people have to talk without sign language?" He answered, "All hearing people couldn't speaking sign language. So, you must be can speak the oral method without sign language." It made me brainwashed. I would think like that until 2016. My parents also believe that. So, I usually communicate with my parents to use oral method because they didn't support my choice is to use sign language.

After graduated in 2012, I moved to an inclusive school in Sukoharjo. I met many hearing friends with oral method. We didn't use sign language to communicate with them. In June 2016, I was involving with a new organization named Gerkatin (Indonesian Deaf organization). They played an important role in changing my life. They made me, I made decided to back using sign language again. Before that, I think sign language isn't a language for Deaf people and sometimes I degraded my own sign language. I'm also seen many hearing people could speak sign language and even had being sign language interpreter each event. It broke my teacher's words. He lied and wrong. I can't believe them.

However, I'm proud to be a Deaf person using sign language, because if you didn't use it, you will be lost your real identity as a Deaf person. I always like and love sign language. The sign language that makes me open new insights and knowledge about the world and culture. I won't regret. That will fun and interesting for me despite there are some people didn't support my choice and even forced to back use the oral method. However, I'd made my decision and won't change until death because I'm Deaf person have my own culture and language which hearing people also have their culture and language. It's the same rights.

And finally, I have my language is a sign language. I don't care what are they say because I have many of my friends always supporting my decision. So, I felt to be blessed and thankful to God because God gave my language is sign language. I'm also thankful to Deaf friends. 

Thank you, everyone! 

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