Social Inclusion and the Use of Inset Sign Language During the 2019 Philippine State of the Nation Address

Abstract

Guided by Radcliffe-Brown’s (1881-1995) Structural Functionalism Theory, this phenomenological study explored how inset sign language was used for social inclusion during the delivery of the 2019 Philippine State of the Nation Address (SONA) on GMA Network, Inc. Through in-depth interviews with eight participants, (four deaf and four sign language interpreters (S-L-Is); their lived experience was analyzed. Four major themes emerged: exposure and familiarization to the deaf community culture which is the Filipino Sign Language (F-S-L); adjustment of the TV inset size for deaf visual signs recognition and understanding; validation of TV insets interpreting with a deaf consultant; accessibility to communication through clear policy and guidelines of TV inset interpreting. The study concludes that while sign language interpreters used F-S-L, social inclusion could only be invoked by adjusting the size of the TV inset, as for the inset sign language system, the visuals signs of the S-L-Is which includes the hand gestures and facial expressions matters. S-L-Is also needs to be exposed and familiar with the deaf community culture to increase their knowledge on the signs that considers the schooled and non-schooled deaf. As policy and guidelines, TV networks should consider adjusting the size of the TV inset, involve the deaf as a consultant to validate the signing and assuring the access to communication of the deaf to make them socially included. Structurally, inset sign language implementation must have a model to follow to make it functional.