A hand on your shoulder

A hand on the shoulder holds many meanings: support, acknowledgement, understanding… 

• Touch and physical interaction in deaf culture is way more acceptable and used than in hearing (especially hearing, British) culture.

• If you were to touch a hearing person that you do not know on the shoulder, you would probably be met with an unfriendly response: a disgruntled look or possibly a punch to the face.

• In deaf culture, touch is very important to establish a connection or as part of communication.

• Depending on the type of tap, place of contact along with other aspects, the physical touch can have many different meanings.

This video describes the issues cussed by the difference in cultural expectations