Silence is Golden! Learn to Communicate in Silence
Audio and visual modalities are two primary means of communication. Humans use these multi-modalities to convey emotions, ideas, and messages effectively. In recent years, we have been using audio-visual communication technology. The audio modality for communication quite often remains noisy and needs to be reviewed as misuse of it has caused sound pollution and hearing loss to many. However, the usage of visual communication modality has enabled millions of deaf people to use their abilities.
In India, persons with deafness use Indian Sign Language (ISL), which is a visual-spatial concept-based language, to communicate. Our society needs to recognize this and constitutionally accept it as a language. The Government of India recognized ISL usage through the establishment of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi, in 2011, under the 11th Five Year Plan (FYP).
ISL uses a visual communication modality that involves the transmission of information through signs and visual cues, such as gaze and facial expression elements, as part of the grammatical and linguistic features of a language. It encompasses various visual-spatial modalities with linguistic cues like tone, pitch, volume, and intonation.
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Dr Mathew Martin PJ is a Media Officer at the Department of Outreach & Extension Services, AYJNISHD (D) (under the Dept. of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India). He is also the Joint Secretary of the Indian Sign Language Interpreter Association (ISLIA).
