Surely the term 'dumb' refers to an inability to speak -

O.E. dumb "silent, unable to speak," from PIE *dheubh- "confusion, stupefaction, dizziness..." Meaning "foolish, ignorant" was occasionally in Eng. from c.1323, but modern use (1823) comes from infl. of Ger. dumm. Applied to silent contrivances, hence dumbwaiter (1749). To dumb down is from 1933.

I appreciate that its historical use of segregating the deaf from the community is a real reason to feel scorn towards the name - and not something I had thought about, so I appreciate finding out about it. All the complaints seem to imply that dumb only means stupid, though, when that's still only it's slang meaning.

I guess the slang meaning stings, and so is offensive, so if they care about peoples' feelings, they should deal with it, and seemingly have, to some extent. But having passed the building many times when it was unused, I never thought the sign was anything but descriptive of the qualities of those it was built for, and I'm sure those in charge of Trof were in the same boat. After all, they took over a small, well-known landmark of Manchester architecture, and probably didn't want to rebrand it, just redecorate it - they have done a damn good job of that, I liked the parrot wallpaper esp.

I'm not saying that those in the deaf community can't be upset over it - just that I'm sure it wasn't an intentional jeer, as a lot of comments seem to have taken it.

amazes me how people can have so much to say,most of it offensive and badly spelt, yet hide behind 'anonymous'!!! My partner (who happens to be deaf!) and myself visited Trof on Friday, and had an excellent night. I agree with the deaf community 'Dumb' is an outdated offensive word, maybe your first reviewer finds illiterate a fitting description for him/her??

i have to say, shut up you pc idiots and any deaf people who got offended should just grow up and get a life. the building has always been the deaf and dumb institute. so what else were trof gonna call the place.
its bloody patheteic whiners like you lot that are turning us into such a nanny state

sounds like a cool bar

Good publicity for Trof me thinks

anyway up Liam Froast is playing there tonight

I think it is highly offensive. I am bnow even more offended to find out what they were originally going to call the place.I think they should rename it something else completely disassociated with its former use. This building was used to segregate not bring people together to sip fancy continental lagers and stare at the over the top flock wallpaper.
The use of this name is Trof just trying to be trendy and contraversial. I hope students and others think twice about entering the establishment. As someone who has been on the Manchester music and night club scene since the 80's I wont be setting foot in the place or the other two bars that they own.

Trof management should have a think before there next bright idea. I'm not deaf but I am disturbed by the insensitive name, I think its great that the building is being used again, but please try and think !

29th of Feb was a Friday. So I guess it opened yesterday?

To Anonymous #2, people were offended because the bar was going to be named 'deaf & dumb', not because of the historic inscription on the building. Get a clue...

ace

omg that building has been up there for ages and not one complaint. this is political correctness gone mad.

Wow, what an utterly pointless article. Congratulations!