Many people may assume that sign language is exclusively for the hearing-impaired and those within that community, and therefore see no need to learn it, especially since the hand gestures used in communication can appear somewhat complex.
However, efforts by some local singers to include sign language in their music videos have, to a certain extent, succeeded in popularising it.
Among the trending music videos featuring sign language were those by local singer Mimifly, whose real name is Shamimi Amalina Norhisham. She featured hand gestures as part of the choreography for her songs ‘Serumpun’ and ‘Angkat’ released this year and last year respectively.
Both videos gained widespread attention, particularly on TikTok, as many users took on the challenge of dancing to the rhythm and lyrics, sharing their own videos on the social media platform.
Mimifly said her decision to feature sign language in her music videos was to connect with the hearing-impaired community.
Previously, Nur Nabila Mohd Razali, better known as Nabila Razali, also drew attention when she translated her festive song ‘Raya Mana’ into sign language. The singer revealed she learned sign language from YouTube.
EDUCATING THROUGH SONG
Educator Abdul Halim Mohd Nasa is also doing his part to raise awareness about sign language to foster a more inclusive environment for the deaf community.
This special education teacher for hearing-impaired students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Ampuan Durah in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, has adopted a creative approach by translating song lyrics into sign language and sharing them on his TikTok account, @Alimzsensei, which quickly captured the attention of his followers.
Abdul Halim, who became active on TikTok in 2022, has been featuring popular and trending songs in his content, performing lip-syncs synchronised with hand gestures and facial expressions.
Among the songs he has covered are ‘Salam Terakhir’ (Sudirman), ‘Hening Rindu’ (Marsha Milan) and ‘Angkat’ (Mimifly). The videos he uploads regularly garner tens of thousands of views, earning a spot on the platform’s For You Page (FYP).
“Most of the songs are requests from TikTok followers and I simply fulfill them to help people learn basic sign language through my video content,” said Abdul Halim, who now has over 27,000 followers on TikTok.
“I originally made TikTok videos about pastries, then one of my students asked me to do a singing video... then came (the idea of) teaching sign language through singing and songs.
“At the time, my only intention was to create awareness so that more people would learn and communicate in sign language. For me, this approach is easier because while entertaining, we are also educating.”
Abdul Halim said he is also happy to note that society is now more open and willing to learn sign language.
“As an educator for students with special needs (hearing impairment), I am pleased when individuals, including artistes, help elevate and empower sign language, which indirectly acknowledges the presence of the deaf community in society.
“This is also a positive sign as we are encouraging more people to learn sign language, which I believe is essential when interacting with the hearing-impaired,” he told Bernama.
Abdul Halim, who has been teaching students with special needs for the last 15 years, said at first, he only had a basic knowledge of sign language before taking the initiative to learn it himself from students and other teachers, as well as by joining short courses organised by various parties, including the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf.
ENHANCE INTERACTION
Meanwhile, head of the Special Education Programme at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr Mohd Norazmi Nordin said sign language is a visual language or form of communication that emphasises the use of hands, facial expressions and body movements to convey messages.
He said by understanding sign language, members of the public can communicate more effectively with the deaf and mute community, which in turn helps foster empathy and improve social interaction, thus making it easier for the hearing-impaired to carry out their daily tasks.
He also explained that the sign language used within the community is not just a set of ordinary “gestures” but one with its own grammar structure, just like spoken languages.
In this country, Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) is recognised as the principal language of the deaf community and it was developed based on the structure of Bahasa Melayu, while also possessing its own unique visual and linguistic features.
“In the school education system, we also use the Bahasa Melayu Hand Code (KTBM), which is more structured in terms of syntax and morphology. Both structures play distinct and important roles in communication and the language learning process of students with hearing disabilities.
“An understanding of the linguistic aspects of sign language should also be emphasised so that society does not underestimate its use,” he said.
Mohd Norazmi said sign language should be more widely used across all official communication channels, including print and electronic media.
He added that the initiatives by RTM and Bernama TV to feature sign language interpreters in news broadcasts should be emulated by other television stations.
“The deaf community also has the right to access information just like everyone else. We need to move toward truly disability-friendly broadcasting.
“By expanding the use of sign language interpreters in mass media, we are not only granting access to the hearing-impaired community but also educating other viewers on the need for inclusive communication. This will raise general awareness that every citizen, regardless of ability, deserves equal opportunities to receive information and news,” he said.
ACCEPTANCE
Mohd Norazmi added that the presence of sign language interpreters on television also provides direct exposure to millions of viewers, allowing them to learn sign language as well.
This effort, he said, is a strategic step toward mainstreaming sign language, which should not be viewed solely as a communication tool but also as a valuable professional skill.
“There could be even more exciting initiatives in the future, such as having well-known sign language interpreters, possibly from among celebrities, which would not only create new career opportunities but also elevate the status of sign language itself,” he said.
Mohd Norazmi said although sign language has gained wider acceptance in society, many still do not truly understand it as appreciation of the language as well as its use as a medium of communication remain limited.
“There needs to be more exposure and training at various levels. Many parties have begun to take the initiative by organising workshops, courses and digital content to introduce sign language to the public.
“However, these efforts need to be supported more comprehensively, including through government policies, educational institutions and the media,” he said.
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