Instagram as a Medium for Socialization

of Indonesia Sign Language (BISINDO)

Asfira RR

, Amanah Rakhim S

, Sulih Indra Dewi

Communications Science, Tribhuwana Tunggadewi University, Malang, Indonesia

Keywords: Deaf, New Media, Instagram, Information Medium, BISINDO

Abstract: The equality of languages for the deaf is very important, because with an equal language will increase social

interaction between deaf community with listeners. In law No. 8 year 2016 article 41 paragraph 2E, it has

been described that sign language skills as the development of the linguistic identity of the deaf disability.

Indonesia Sign Language (BISINDO) is part of the accessibility for the deaf in their life to interact with the

hearing people. Hence, the need for socializing BISINDO in order to build awareness of the listeners to be

able to understand the sign language used by the deaf is essential. In this research, a new media becomes

one of the ways to socialize Indonesian sign language (BISINDO) to hearing people in Instagram. This

study used a qualitative-descriptive approach, with the aim, to know the role of instagram as a medium of

information in socialization of the sign language of Indonesia (BISINDO). Social media empowered the

people to express their thoughts and opinions and share with others. As well as a medium of information

socialization of BISINDO, interact with friends Deaf and the community or by the community of listeners,

and Also provide positive benefits for the Deaf and the community via uploading the information (repost) of

socialinfluence.

1 INTRODUCTION

A language equality for Deaf is one part of Deaf

accesbility in everyday life. Deaf people basically

need the same interaction with other people, but

because of limitations in hearing they interact with

the other people using a sign language. The sign

language used is the Indonesian Sign Language or

abbreviated to BISINDO.With equal meaning of

language, Deaf and the public expected to be able to

communicate well. But unfortunately, the use of

Indonesian Sign Language (BISINDO) has not

widely known by the public audience.

The Act No. 8 2016 Article 41 paragraph 2E,

explains the sign language skills and the promotion

of the linguistic identity of the Deaf community.

What is meant by "sign language" in article 41

paragraph 2E also includes sign language of

Indonesia (Bisindo). BISINDO used by the Deaf

community because it is easy to use and

understandable for the signs that are used close to

everyday life. Therefore, communication becomes a

form of fulfillment for people who are very

important to establish actualization and confidence

to gain happiness in survival for humans.

In this globalization era, new media development

rapidly changes, it is in line with the advancement of

communication technology. Lev Manovich ( in

Robert K. Logan, 2010: 5) describes that new media

is about the ability to combine text, audio, digital,

video, multimedia, interactive, virtual reality, web,

email, chat, computer applications and any source

that can be accessed by personal computer. With the

development of technology nowadays, it is also

accessible via a smartphone. Some examples of new

media is a website, mobile apps, virtual worlds,

multimedia, computer games, human-computer

interface, computer animation, and interactive

computer installation (Wardrip-Fruin and Montfort,

2003: 13-25)

One example of the new media which is

favoured by people is instagram. Instagram is

RR, A., Rakhim S, A. and Dewi, S.

Instagram as a Medium for Socialization of Indonesia Sign Language (BISINDO).

DOI: 10.5220/0008818001370141

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Contemporary Social and Political Affairs (ICoCSPA 2018), pages 137-141

ISBN: 978-989-758-393-3

137

populer among people because it can display

images, text and sound. The new media also has an

important role in presenting and socializing

information to public. Deaf or Deaf community also

uses Instagram as a means of Indonesian Sign

Language (BISINDO) information to the public

audience or a broad audience. With the aim for

listeners and Deaf people can easily interact and

understand each other.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Deaf and BISINDO

Deaf is an individual with auditory disorder and lack

in language development, while proficiency

determines a person in speaking skills, as well as

interacting with his social life, and because he loses

the ability to hear so that communication is

generally through the use of sign language. A

language is a breath of life and also the key to have a

meaningful life (Department of Education, 1984:

127). Currently,The mention of the word "Tuna" for

an individual who has limited / commonly called

with disabilities give a different interpretation. As

with the use of the word Deaf, which is where the

meaning of the word "Tuna" is more suitable for

people in the medical field, which means the damage

and do not have. Then in daily life the Deaf or

Tunarunguis more familiar to be called Tuli (Deaf)

with capital "T" which refers to the largegrowing

minority group, has a culture, and uses sign

language to communicate or Deaf community that

does not have a negative meaning (Forum Diskusi

Komunikasi dan Disabilitas, 2016).

BISINDO itself is a communication system that

is practical and effective for the Deaf in Indonesia,

developed by the Deafs among themselves and used

the same function as the language of Indonesia

today. By using BISINDO the Deaf expresses

thoughts and feelings to express (Kamus BISINDO,

2009).The using of BISINDO for instance, with one

word and an expression to indicate ongoing events,

it is easier to understand, quick, and simple. To

translate sign language, BISINDO generally is not in

accordance with the signals used EYD because it is

more influenced by the culture and customs of the

Deaf itself. Therefore BISINDO often considered to

be more effective and easier to use. For example

BISINDO the word “mother” in East Java province

will be different from other provinces such as

Jakarta, Bali and other provinces. Currently, more

Deaf uses BISINDO in interacting among themself

or even with common public because of its

simplicity to understand by other people.

2.2 New Media

New media is a concept that can not be separated

from the emergence of the internet. The Internet

allows inter-circuited computers around the world,

so that it can create computer-based communication

(computer mediated communication) which has the

speed to perform an interaction, more efficient,

cheaper and faster to get an update. (Balkin, 1998, in

Rusfian, 2015: 99). Marshall McLuhan in his book

“Understanding the Media” states that "the medium

is the message", it is the medium that shapes and

controls the scale and form of human association

and action. The content or uses of such media are as

diverse as they are ineffectual in shaping the form of

human association. Indeed, it is only too typical that

the "content" of any medium blinds us to the

character of the medium. (McLuhan, 1964)

"Medium influence in controlling the scale and

form of the action of a group of people / specific

communities. The use of new media such as

instagram has an important role in providing

information about BISINDO socialization, and can

influence and create changes for the public audience,

Deaf and its community so BISINDO can be equal.

2.3 Characteristics of New Media

Martin Lister in his book New Media: A Critical

Introduction (2009: 16) reviews some of the main

terms in discourses about new media namely:

Digital. In terms of communication and

representational media this 'data' usually takes the

form of qualities such as light or sound or

represented space the which have already been

coded into a 'cultural form' (actually 'analogues'),

such as written text, graphs and diagrams,

photographs, recorded moving images, etc. This is in

marked contrast to analogue media where all the

data input is converted into another physical object.

'Analogue' refers to the way that the input of data

(reflected light from a textured surface, the live

sound of someone singing, the Inscribed marks of

someone's (Lister, 2009: 16).

Interactivity. Interactivity has been one of the

key 'value added' characteristics of new media.

Where 'old' media offered passive consumption offer

new media interactivity. Generally, the term stands

for a more powerful sense of user engagement with

media texts, a more independent relation to sources

ICoCSPA 2018 - International Conference on Contemporary Social and Political Affairs

138

of knowledge, Individualized media use, and greater

user choice (Lister, 2009: 21).

Hypertextual. The appearance of hypertext is one

of the effects of technological developments in the

new media era. With the existence of hypertext

makes it easy for users or consumers to be able to

access and search for information. As an example

hyperlinks, bookmarks, hashtag (#) on instagram

and Twitter.

Virtual. Messages are delivered via virtual

communication will seem so real and true. As

Shields has pointed out (2003) in the digital era of

the meaning of 'virtual' has changed. Where, in

everyday usage, it once meant a state that was

'almost' or 'as good as' reality, it has now come to

mean or Be Synonymous with 'Simulated'. In this

sense, rather than meaning an 'incomplete form of

reality' it now suggests an alternative to the estate

and, maybe, 'better than the real' (Shields 2003: 12

in Lister, 2009: 36).

Networked. Networking in this case refers to the

internet. Internet in new media mass media are no

longer sending a limited number of messages to a

homogenous mass audience. Because of the

multiplicity of messages and sources, the audience

itself Becomes more selective. The targeted

audience tends to choose its messages, so deepening

its segmentation (Sabbah 1985: 219; quoted in

Castells 1996: 339; in Lister, 2009: 31).

2.4 Social Media

People are interested in networking and connecting

with friends, sharing content, sending messages,

collaborating with each other in real-time, gathering

news / information / feedback or just uploadin or

downloading media files (movies / music / photos)

on the Internet. Any media in the form of websites

that allows them to do these things with ease

becomes a social media site. Today, social media

has substantially changed the way organisasi,

communities, and individuals communicate with

each other. Social media can be differentiated from

industrial or traditional media like magazines,

newspapers, television and movies, as they are

relatively inexpensive, easily accessible and enable

anyone (private individuals) to publish or access

information (Trapial & Kanwar, 2012: 28).

Instagram constitute application social media to

share photos and video that allows users to take

photos or videos, apply filter digital, and distribute

them to various services social networking,

Including those of its own Instagram. instagram now

become one of the social networking applications

are quite booming, with many variations ease of

sharing images and video editing. As of 2017 the

increase instagram users increased by 100 users, and

make a total of 500 million of that is the daily active

users (Joseph, 2017).

3 RESEARCH METHODS

This study used a descriptive qualitative method,

with the focus of research was to see how instagram

role as one of the new media for information

dissemination of BISINDO. The data collection

methods with a literature study and observation on

instagram accounts of Deaf and the Deaf community

in Surabaya in socializing BISINDO.

4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Example posted via instagram was the video when

they were using BISINDO and wrote a caption

which contained the meaning of a sign language has

been delivered through the post.

The characteristics of the new media contained

in instagram namely:

Digital: In the digital media community also in

instagram users can easily create photos, videos or

find the information needed, such a feature to upload

photos or videos by selecting a camera-shaped icon,

users can also provide a text title in any photo or

video that will be posted. Pictures and videos

uploaded adapted to the activities to be implemented

or that have been implemented, such as the upload

image on account @kartusby in International Deaf

Day. The upload contained International Deaf Day

activities and provided an explanatory caption in

each upload.

Interactivity: Markus' (1990) suggests that

interactivity is a characteristic of technologies that

enables multidirectional communication (Lievrouw,

2006: 207) The new media have the interactive

characteristics for the Deaf community as an option

to participate more in providing information to the

public. The presence of interactive new media

makes society or the Deaf and its community able to

choose contents as they desire to access. The new

media has become a medium for people to get closer

to the technology, more participants and creative.

The emergence of new media and communications

technologies has resulted in a remarkable

transformation this time. This had an impact on the

Instagram as a Medium for Socialization of Indonesia Sign Language (BISINDO)

139

way people communicate and share knowledge and

information.

With comment feature in Instagram enables users

to give comments or opinions regarding the posting

pictures or videos uploaded. This feature also allows

the followersof Deaf account to interact with the

public or other Deaf community.

Networked: People and Deaf people who use

new media like Instagram can easily connected to an

extensive network and easily access them via a

smartphone or computer. By logging in with user ID

and password, users can look up information and

share information about BISINDO in form of

images, video or text in Instagram and also can share

information with other users about BISINDO

through the share features available. Even the share

feature can also be shared with social media other

than instagram.

Virtual: Virtual characteristics of the new media

provide convenience to Instagram users to interact

with their followers directly through live broadcasts

and Igtv features. Using the feature users can

instantly record BISINDO socialization and also

interact with their followers. In addition, the

previously recorded videos can also be saved and

replayed. It is easier for the Deaf to provide

information about BISINDO to the public.

Hypertext: In Instagram they are somespots on

the website page that can be clicked by the user to

move to another spot either on the same page, the

same website, and other websites (Severin and

Tankard, 2014: 449). In social media like Instagram

by typing a key word or topic we want and it will

appear. For example, ifwe type hashtag (#).

#komunitastuli #duniatanpasuara

#bahasaisyaratindonesia meal #bahasaisyarat will

appear deaf community who have instagram

account, various pictures and videos of BISINDO as

well as various images and videos related to the

Deaf community or BISINDO. In addition to the

hashtag (#) to facilitate screening the information the

bookmark feature also can be used.

Instagram not only has a role as a means of

information but also as a means of social interaction

of its users. The Deaf ang their community can also

interact with their followers either deaf or hearing

community even through some of the features

available on instagram, like on the comment feature,

direct message (DM), repost and to the latest

features of live broadcasting. Instagram also allows

users to upload information related to personal or

their community.

Social media has opened up new avenues for

people to engage with each other and with the

content available on the Internet. The social

interaction of the yore, severely restricted by various

boundaries, has now been taken online, opening up a

world of new possibilities. People are using the

social media to stay connected with friends / family,

find people with Similar interests, discuss issues

with others, share opinions, asking and answering

questions, reading user reviews etc. We can surmise

that, in addition to staying connected, the users want

to acquire / Enhance knowledge and gain insights

into specific subjects to help them Make better

decisions (Trapial & Kanwar, 2012: 29).

The role of instagram beside as for social

interaction and a means of information, it also

provides other benefits such as the emergence of

Deafinfluencers and several Deaf communities have

been active to provide information about BISINDO

via instagram, such as Komunitas Kartu Surabaya,

Deaf Art Community Yogyakarta, Aakar Tuli

Malang, and many more. As pointed out by Varinder

Taprial & Priya Kanwar that People use these

networking sites for their daily conversations. And It

is also possible to see what other people in your

network are talking about. Tus it has Become very

easy for people to get feedback, information or

advice regarding products / services or companies

from their friends in their network. By using social

media, any individual can have a “social influence”

by virtue of his/her social interactions on the web or

via mobile technologies (Trapial & Kanwar,

2012:36).

A social influences can have a positive impact

for the information conveyed to their followers.

Followers who saw the posting would find out more

details about the information submittedas performed

by Surya Sahetapy through @suryasahetapy

instagramnya account. In his instagram account, he

often uploads the information about BISINDO

classes, seminars on Deafness and its identity that

makes Surya as a seminar speaker, his ctivities either

personal or with the Deaf community. Through his

uploads, there are manycelebrity friends in Indonesia

that support the Deaf activities. In addition, the

support from the government is getting increase, for

instance via instagram account Anies Baswedan

@aniesbaswe, The Jakarta governor also

participated by uploaded a Eid Al Fitr greeting

videousing BISINDO. It provides many positive

benefits provided by the social influencerto the

socialization of BISINDO by re uploading or

reposting from Deaf community account.

ICoCSPA 2018 - International Conference on Contemporary Social and Political Affairs

140

5 CONCLUSIONS

The development of new media provides a new

experience in interacting from individual to

individual, individual and community or

communities to communities. Especially for the

Deaf and their communities. Via instagram they can

interact well with fellow deaf community or with

listeners without a sense of inferiority. Currently,

media as a communication tool allow us to

communicate efficiently including social media.

From 2012 until now Instagram users is increasing

and the features in instagram are more attractive.

The whole society and the Deaf and their

community also participate using instagram as a

means of information dissemination about BISINDO

by using the features in instagram.

Social media empowered the people to express

their thoughts and opinions and share with others.

Social media give the Deaf and their community a

new power to be more confident, and more people

realize that they are not talking in a vacuum but a

very responsive audience, who take part in the

conversation and express their point of view and

hear their voices. Various benefits of instagram as

new media has been felt by the Deaf and their

community, as well as a means of information

dissemination of BISINDO, interact with fellow

Deaf friends and their community or with the

hearing community. Instagram also provides

positive benefits for the Deaf and the community by

uploading the information (repost) of social

influencers.

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