Proxemic as spatial strategy on social space for deaf community

Abstract

To socialize with others is a human instinct, that also applies to deaf people. However, there is a distinction in how deaf people interact with other people. The use of sign language that relies on the ability to read hand and body gestures have created specific visual needs. According to Diani (2012), visual needs affect proxemic zones that are important in the social aspect of the deaf community. Hence, deaf people need certain spatial configurations that not only support their communication needs but also creating comfortable distance between people, especially in a public social place such as café. The objective of this paper is to investigate whether the concept of spatial proximity might provide physical and social comfort for deaf people. For this purpose, the author observed a café specialized for the deaf community, Kopi Tuli. Findings from this study show that spatial configurations support their visual needs so deaf people can interact effectively with sign language and adjusting their comfort distance with various people.