The Use of BISINDO In the Social Ineraction of Deaf Individuals In the “TIBA” Community of Surabaya

Abstract

Abstract

stractDeaf people in Indonesia face communication barriers that limit their social interactions in everyday life. This study examines the use of Indonesian Sign Language (BISINDO) in social interactions within the TIBA Community (Tim Bisindo dan Aksesibilitas) in Surabaya as a form of inclusive communication. Using a descriptive qualitative approach and the framework of Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), this research analyzes how BISINDO functions not only as a communication tool, but also as a form of social accommodation and a marker of Deaf cultural identity. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with six informants from within the community, as well as documentation. The findings show that interactions within TIBA form three layered accommodation strategies, namely pedagogical convergence, kinesthetic convergence, and cultural divergence. Hearing individuals are encouraged to adopt the logic of Deaf visual language, while the community maintains teaching authority as a way of protecting its cultural identity. This study concludes that inclusive communication within TIBA is not one-sided, but instead requires the active involvement of both parties without eliminating each other’s identities.