Teaching a deaf adult to speak

I'm working on plotting a WIP based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame (with a setting change and added fantasy elements), in which the main character, Diana, is the deaf bellringer of Leeds Parish Church in the late 1530's. Unlike Quasimodo in the original novel, Diana has only lived in the belltower for six years (she is currently 25, and was locked up when she was 19 after a lycanthrope bit her). She has also been deaf since birth, since it's a genetic trait rather than one acquired through years of ringing huge bells multiple times a day, every day for years on end. (Though even if she wasn't deaf to begin with, that certainly wouldn't help.)

My main problem is this: during the climax of the book, I need Diana to claim sanctuary in the cathedral on behalf of her hearing love interest Valerie, much like Quasi does for Esmeralda in the Disney film. Since I'm not certain how effective it would be with sign language, I want Diana to be able to shout the word for all to hear. I was thinking she'd learn how to speak the word from Valerie, who visits her in the belltower at the start of the story and later gives her shelter in my version of the Court of Miracles (new name pending). Trouble is, having been deaf all her life, Diana has no basis for understanding spoken word beyond some skill in lip-reading. And given the time period, cochlear implants or any modern hearing aids are a non-option. So how long would it take for Valerie to teach Diana, if they focus solely on that one word, "sanctuary"?

This is also relevant to their romantic subplot, as the longer I can give them from their first meeting to the climax and resolution, the more time I can devote to letting them fall in love without it seeming rushed or forced. (I'm veering toward [or possibly past?] the Disney version at the end, with both Diana and Valerie surviving and remaining a couple. There isn't any rival for Valerie's affections aside from my version of Frollo, nor do I intend to add one.)

 

As I mentioned in my original post, though, Diana's deafness is different than Quasimodo's. Presumably Quasimodo learned to speak well before he was old enough to ring the bells, whereupon he gradually lost his hearing and Frollo taught him to sign; Diana never learned to speak before becoming bellringer, as she was raised by deaf parents who taught her to sign from the start. Diana can read lips and is literate, which would help a lot, but signing is her go-to.

I'm not terribly inclined to read the original novel at this point, since I think I'd end up skimming most of it due to padding and description of Notre Dame (which wouldn't even be relevant to my novel, which is set in Leeds, England rather than in Paris). Also the little I know of the plot involves Phoebus attempting to rape Esmeralda, which is an automatic NOPE in my mind. (There is no analogue of Phoebus in my novel, whether based on the original or the Disney version.)

Also, you're right, there is a Quasimodo/Esmeralda/Phoebus triangle in the Disney movie. Esmeralda ends up with Phoebus, and Quasi blesses their relationship.

 

Are you referring to my story or the Disney movie? Because that kinda came off as insulting.

Yeah, basically. I guess I could just have someone teach her from childhood; it would make things easier all around.

Thank you.

 

Thank you very much, Helio!

I never intended for Diana to be totally mute, simply non-verbal at the start of the story. I do intend for her to be entirely deaf, as that's how she was conceived in my head several years ago and how I've written her in other projects. She doesn't have cochlear implants or the like in modern settings either, because she's a werewolf in almost every continuity and from what I know cochlear implants typically involve silver.

Regarding this project though, even if she still had some hearing in her youth, being the bellringer of the church would definitely have an impact on that over a matter of years, would it not? Those bells are big and LOUD, and her eardrums would routinely take a beating.

 

Apology accepted. No harm done.

...I think you might be confusing Phoebus (the Captain) with Frollo (the Archdeacon)? In the original novel they both fall in lust with Esmeralda (and both at least attempt to have sex with her, from what I know) and Phoebus really isn't a good guy. In the Disney movie Phoebus is much more heroic and his lust is turned into love. Frollo is still lustful and crazy and evil.

No problem! It plays out rather differently than that in my head. When Diana finds the courage to sneak out of the tower and get away from Matthew (the deacon who keeps here there against her will), she finds a young man named Anthony (who is a lycan, though Diana doesn't know it at first) preparing to commit suicide and rescues him. Once they're safe on the ground, a mob of townsfolk call Diana a demon (since she has cross-shaped burns on her from Matthew's silver crucifix); Valerie comes and protects Diana, also getting the young man to safety. Matthew shows up and drags Diana back into the church, and Valerie follows. When Matthew turns on Valerie, she claims sanctuary.

The two women spend time together in the belltower (how MUCH time is still to be decided) and get to know each other, while Matthew is content to leave them to starve. Valerie starts teaching Diana to say the word "sanctuary" in case Matthew ever tries to hurt her again. She convinces Diana to come with her to the city werewolves' hideout, and Diana agrees. Only when they reach the safety of the hideout do they really start falling in love. Then more plot happens, and much like the book (but more like the Disney movie), Diana is taken back to the belltower in chains, while Valerie is sentenced to burn to death for being a witch, and is unconscious by the time Diana gets to her. Then comes Diana's moment to yell "SANCTUARY!" on Valerie's behalf.

If you don't mind though, Helio, I might incorporate a few of your ideas into my story? Anthony could really use some development other than being suicidal and rescued by Diana. Maybe he could help in teaching Diana to speak.

EDIT TO ADD: Valerie is not ACTUALLY a witch -- she's a Christian and an alchemist, who also has a tactile healing power which she considers a God-given gift, but which Matthew claims is witchcraft.

 

Thank you very much, cydare! This is very helpful. ^^

Diana would know whatever sign language her parents taught her, since it wasn't really standardized back then (iirc). At least one of her parents is more than likely deaf as well, not hearing. She would have taught her hearing ex-fiance the same sign language as well.