GRE - Leave Taking (Lesson)

Leave Taking

In Deaf culture, leave-taking, or "Deaf goodbyes", are significantly longer and more involved than hearing goodbyes.  There’s nothing quick and snappy about a Deaf goodbye.  Leave-taking is a multi-step process in which individuals say goodbye, begin to leave, then engage in conversation again...say goodbye again and move to leave again...then engage in additional conversation multiple times. It typically includes a farewell and an indication of the next time you will see them.

When you leave a group setting, make an effort to say goodbye to those who make eye contact with you or anyone else you may have spoken to. If a person leaves early without saying goodbye, it is considered rude.

The Deaf culture norm of leave-taking ties back to an era when Deaf people did not have easy access to communications technology. This left face-to-face contact as the only choice available for the Deaf.  This caused Deaf gatherings to become highly treasured events because one was not sure when the next deaf interaction would be. Time with Deaf friends is rare and savored. However, this is changing as Deaf people have more access to long-distance communication, making their meetings in person less necessary and sacred. 

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