Communication Barriers and Accommodations Used By Deaf and Hearing Students of Imus Pilot Elementary School Using Messenger App

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Nearly everything may now be limitless in communication by means of technological advancement. These have become less of a problem due to websites and applications which people can access readily through the internet, enabling them to exercise their role as a social being. Even those who are incapable of hearing and speaking are encouraged to communicate because they belong in society. However, because Deaf students do not have full access to the sounds and intonations of spoken language, the acquisition process for the deaf learners is often labored and unnatural and occurs at a much slower pace than for hearing students. Deaf people have their own type of language with their own syntax not readily understood by those who are not part of the Deaf community.

METHODS

The study wants to know the factors that cause communication barriers during a conversation in Messenger App and the accommodations the Deaf use to address these barriers. This was conducted under qualitative method of research to understand a phenomenon related to the participants' diverse experiences and comprehension of the messages. The researcher used the descriptive research design to collect the data needed and triangulation was applied. There are 6 participants consisting of 3 males and 3 females from Deaf and hearing students capable of using the App from Imus Pilot Elementary School. This was conducted through participant observation of the online interaction, in-depth interview and group interview done separately.

RESULTS

The factors that cause communication barriers between the Deaf and Hearing students through the Messenger App are language difference, misinterpretation, incomprehension, reliance on facial expression and restrictive learning environment. The students who have the tendency to diverge are caused by their lesser exposure to the hearing community. On the other hand, language adjustment, changing of topics, use of emoticons, change the medium of communication, repetition of the message, willingness to share culture, sentence construction, use of polite words and immediate response are online accommodations of the Deaf and Hearing participants during their online interaction in Messenger.

DISCUSSIONS

The result proves that there is really language difference on these two communities and it can be pursued with the use of visuals such as photos and videos which are highly appreciated by the Deaf. Learning the basic sign language may be beneficial. With the willingness in both parties to converge, their accommodations to online communication are most likely to be effective.