By: S.

Vijayakumar Sign Language Trainer AYJNIHH, Mumbai

Definition
There are several definitions for the term Communication available in the world. Here, a few of the definitions are given for the readers.

A fundamental component of social behavior; the transmission of information (messages) between a sender and a receiver using any of the five senses. Language is a form of communication specific to humans. something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups
It is the process of exchanging information and ideas.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

There are six aspects to communication which are given below.

Sender/Communicator (an initiator) 2. Receiver/Communicatee (the recipient) 3. A mode /vehicle (medium); 4. A message; and 5. An effect (feedback)

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Communication is also interpersonal: and individual (sender) enters in relation with one or more persons (receiver) by means of physical link (channel) and a symbolic language (code). This implies two important factors: the intention to communicate (mere self-expression is not a communication) and the alteration of roles between the sender and receiver.
The result of communication is AIM of communication that should follow the reaction such as Change, commitment, action, understanding. i.e. What change, commitment to what, and understand what in particular? These are likely to be the contributor to the process of communication.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Communication of persons with Hearing Impairment

One of the main reasons for communication is to interact and it can be both Personal and Social. The second reason is to express oneself. It is a most prerequisite for facilitating proper understanding between individuals. And then Proper communication makes an individual with self-confidence and enhances the personality. And it is for overall development of Self, i.e., Mentally, Emotionally, Intellectually and Psychologically. As the Hearing Impaired are not able communicate properly, their overall development in the above said are affected.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

This communication, or rather the lack of proper communication, is the basic problem of the hearing impaired people.
When we say lack of communication, it is only between the hearing and hearing impaired people. The deaf people among themselves, are able to overcome this lack of communication by adopting to their natural language which is the Sign Language.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

The Ways the Deaf Communicate

There are several methods of communication to be chosen by the persons with hearing impairment.
The freedom of choosing communication methods is depending upon the deaf individuals as per their ability and comfort to communicate. Here is the list of communication options available for the deaf.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Auditory-Verbal Method

1. Auditory-Verbal: If we teach children through the skill of listening, children with normal hearing learn to speak through listening.

2. Auditory-verbal therapy is a method for teaching deaf children to listen and speak using their residual hearing in addition to the constant use of amplification devices such as hearing aids, FM devices, and cochlear implants.

3. Auditory-verbal therapy emphasizes speech and listening, discouraging reliance on visual communication such as lip-reading or Signed Languages.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Oral-Aural Method
Oral-Aural: To communicate orally we can use residual hearing with lip reading and speech. The maternal-reflective method is based on this approach. In the MRM the spoken word is seized from the child and reinforced through the written form. There is strong emphasis on writing, class books made by and made for the children etc. in order that they can reflect on language learning.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Manual Methods
Cued Speech:

It is a method of communication that combines speech reading with a system of hand shapes placed near the mouth to help deaf or hard-ofhearing individuals differentiate words that look similar on the lips.

These are linked inseparably with speech to assist lip reading. These cues cannot stand alone and are intended to assist early language and speech development.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Here is an image showing how Cued speech looks like

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Sign Language
Introduction
It is the language of the Deaf, adopted and used by themselves. It is the mother tongue of the persons with hearing impairment. It is the complete language as like as the language used by the hearing community and has its own structure and grammar.

Sign Language

Definition

A. A language that uses a system of visual hand gestures, facial expressions, and other body movements as the means of communication, especially among deaf people.

B. Manual communication commonly used by deaf. The gestures or symbols in sign language are organized in a linguistic way. Each individual gesture is called a sign. Each sign has three distinct parts; the hand shape, the position of the hands, and the movement of the hands along with facial expression.

C. A sign language (also 'signed language') is a language which uses manual communication instead of sound to convey meaning - simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's thoughts. Sign languages develop in deaf communities, which include interpreters and friends and families of deaf people as well as people who are deaf or hearing-impaired themselves.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Gesture / Signs
Facial Expression

Finger Spelling

Sign Language
Lip Reading
Body Language

Mime
S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH 10/12/2013

Gesture/Signs

These refer to the vocabulary of Sign language. In Spoken language, there are vocabularies, i.e., several words that have meanings. Like that signs have visual hand gestures. Each individual gesture is called a sign and give each sign gives a particular meaning. Gestures refer to the natural signs like come, go, etc which even hearing people are using in their daily life.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication made with a part of the body, and used instead of verbal communication (or in combination with it). Some gestures, such as shaking or nodding the head or shrugging the shoulders, are so common that they are generally understood by everyone. Other less obvious, but still easily recognizable, gestures can also be used for communication. These gesture systems are easy to use, but detailed conversation is not possible. The illustrations given below are few examples for sign languages used in the world.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Finger Spellings

The alphabets of the spoken language are called as Finger Spelling, when these alphabets are translated into certain signs. The finger spelling method is being followed since there is no exact translation for the alphabets in Sign Language.

In Sign Communication, these finger spellings are used to spell out certain words, like names of persons and places. There is a method in signs if some one (deaf) likes to mention/call a persons/places name in particular then he/she/it is given a unique Sign Name. But this is possible only if the object (person/place) is already familiar.
Just view the finger spellings charts used by Deaf and Deaf-Blind in the next slide.
S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH 10/12/2013

Finger Spelling Charts

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Facial Expressions

It is often said that the face is the mirror of the heart by the proverb face is the index of the mind. This is true while communicating through sign language. Many natural feelings like, anger, sadness, doubtfulness, fear, etc can be shown through facial expressions. Facial expressions are also used to show the degree of comparison. For example, the difference between expensive and very expensive, Good and very good, etc They can be easily explained using varying facial expressions, though the sign used is the same for both expressions. S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH 10/12/2013

Facial expressions in Sign Language are very important because they express grammar.

Facial expressions are rule-governed. Facial expressions for questions that require YES/NO answers are different from facial expressions for WH-question words, e.g. WHO, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, etc.

1. YES/NO questions: - the eyebrows are raised, eyes are open wide, head and shoulders are forward. 2. WH-questions: - the eyebrows are lowered, eyes are narrowed, head forward with a slight tilt and shoulders forward.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Body Language

The outward signs of a person which indicates their inner thoughts or attitude.

It is also crucial in sign language. Appropriate body movements show the direction in which communication is taking place/message is being sent, and appropriate body language shows the mood of the person.

S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH

10/12/2013

Lip Reading

The ability to gain understanding of what is being said by watching the lips as well as by watching the face, expressions, and gestures. The term speech reading is now recognized as more descriptive because it includes watching the facial expressions, gestures, and body language as well as the lips. Lip reading is a technique of understanding spoken language without hearing its sounds. Practitioners learn the phonemes associated with the shape and attitude of the mouth and infer words from what they view.
S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH 10/12/2013

Mime

An actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression using only his body movements along with facial expressions. It may be otherwise called as mimic: imitate (a person, a manner, etc.). For example an actor mimicked the on a particular person very accurately by doing the same mannerism and body movements.
For example, in colleges and stage performances the students and actors act out mimed eating an apple using gestures and body movements without words. Since sign language depends on visual forms of communication to a large extent mime becomes a perfect tool and component in sign S.Vijayakumar, SLT, AYJNIHH 10/12/2013 language.