Articulate

In Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice, Rachel Kolb offers a profound exploration of language, communication, and identity. Born profoundly deaf during the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, Kolb navigates a world designed for hearing people. This sociology memoir follows her journey through speech therapy, lipreading, and the integration of a cochlear implant. She examines the tension between American Sign Language and the spoken word, illustrating the complexities of finding a sense of self within different sensory experiences.

This literary memoir functions as a linguistic coming-of-age story that bridges the Deaf and hearing worlds. Kolb uses personal narrative and cultural analysis to redefine what it means to be articulate, moving beyond mere pronunciation to find true mutual connection. Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice provides a nuanced look at how language expresses our shared humanity and the various ways individuals exist together through communication.