Cameleons and codas

Societal images of normality in most cases are narrow minded and usually only apply to small percentile of persons. On top of our ego driven society lays a layer of ignorance towards those outside normality. Patricia Conrad first hand experienced society’s close-minded vision of others. Her life lessons were taught early on through the gracefulness of hand gestures or ASL (American Sign Language). Patricia uses Chameleons and Codas to express her experiences of her social adaptation. Patricia uses metaphors, sarcasm in rhetorical questions as well as imagery to give an insight through the ears of a child of hearing-impaired parents.

One of the easiest ways to relate to someone is to find a common interest .In writing Patricia uses metaphors to relate to the reader. Patricia uses two main metaphors to illustrate her main theme of social adaptation. She states, “ So I became a chameleon, changing colour as I shifted from one world to the other.”(pg 225) Patricia compares herself to a chameleon, which changes colour to protect itself herself from predators. Patricia views her predator as outside persons which exemplifies her focal point. Further implications of creative

In that Patricia’s parents are hearing impaired a key factor in her essay dealt with a heightened awareness of the other senses and imagery. When introducing her childhood home she states, “ We lived near a busy highway with semi-trailers roaring by a all hours.” The sound of course was not a bother for her parents, and Patricia and her other siblings just, “tuned it out.” Another childhood difference of Patricia’s was her reasoning for not running around the home. Her father established, “the shudder of the floor woke him instantly.” Whereas other families may have found the sound irritating but Patricia’s family could, “shout, sing or yodel at will.” (Page 225) it was the vibrations felt that were frowned upon. Patricia’s imagery of the sound gives an insight not usually thought of by most. It also gives a clear image of what her parents viewed as noise. In order to grab one another attention her family, her parents in particular, “relied on visual and tactile cues […], [such as] stomping on the floor or flicking the light switch. The general public may view such actions as rude or ignorant but for Patricia’s family it was a form of communication.

Alberta native, Patricia Conrad,

Some topics in this essay:
Patricia Conrad, Chameleons Codas, , patricia conrad, patricia’s family, page 227, chameleon skin, lack knowledge, “hey mom, social adaptation, patricia metaphors,