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BARFI MOVIE
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of Requirments for Final Assignment of Research Method on
Linguistics Subject
By
Luthfia Rohul Maghfiroh
Reg. Number : A7325055 (B)
Precence List : 18
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
SURABAYA
2017
AN ANALYSIS SIGN LANGUAGE USED BY BARFI IN BARFI MOVIE
Abstract : This is the journal article which concerns to sign language that used by deaf male,
Barfi based on Barfi movie. The purposes of this journal article are to know and get
understanding about the features of sign language that are used by Barfi and how Barfi
expresses his emotion used sign language based on Barfi movie. Hopefully, this journal
article is useful and benefit for the reader to get the knowledge about the features of sign
language and how deaf people expresses their feeling used sign language. The research
design used in this journal article is content analysis and descriptive qualitative. Whereas, this
journal article collects, organizes and describes the features of sign language and expressing
the emotion used sign language based on Barfi movie. The data of the research were colleted
from the pictures for the sign language features and the transcription of the utterances are
performed in this movie. This journal article found some features of sign language which are
used by Barfi to help his communication among people, such as Finger Spelling, Spatial
Grammar and Simultaneity, Placement, Non-Manual Feature and Handshape
(Handling/gasping and Flat Surface) and how Barfi expressing his emotion to the people
(happy,sad,dissapointed,praised and etc.). The result of this journal article is beneficial to
help the teachers or the parents who have deaf children to undertstand well about what are
they talking used sign language.
I. INTRODUCTION
Human being can communicate with each other like be able to express and
exchange knowledge, opinions, promises, thanks, declarations and also the feeling use
language. Language is a word, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them
used and understood by a large group of people (Denzinger, 3). Language is a set of
symbols being used mainly for communication. The symbols may be spoken or written.
Language is an aspect of human behavior. In written form it is a long-term record of
knowledge from one generation to the next while in spoken form it is a means of
communication. Language is the key aspect of human intelligence (Robin, 2013).
Language is a tool to communicate among people. But not every people has same
language such as deaf and dumb people, they have their own language which is called
sign language. Sign language is a formal language employing a system of hand gestures
for communication (as by the deaf) or an unsystematic method of communicating chiefly
by manual gestures used by people speaking different languages (Merriam Webster
Dictionary). Sign language gives hearing and speech impaired individuals with an
interface to communicate with other members of the society.
Unfortunately, sign language is not understood by most of the common people.
Sign language is very important for deaf and dumb people to communicate with each
other. There are many kind of sign language. There are different sign languages in the
world as same as spoken language. American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign
Language (BSL), French Sign Language (FSL), Indian Sign Language (ISL), Taiwan
Sign Language (TSL), Bahasa Isyarat Bahasa Indonesia (BISINDO) or Indonesian Sign
Language (IndoSL), (BIM) Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (Malaysian sign language) and
(KTBM) Kode Tangan Bahasa Melayu (Hand Code of Malay Language) and many
others sign language that developed by deaf and dumb people in each region. In each
sign language above has their own sign. For instance, British Sign Language (BSL) is a
different language from American Sign Language (ASL), and Americans who know
ASL may not understand British Sign Language (BSL) and also otherwise. But, usually
deaf and dumb people use American Sign Language as the global sign language. This
study aims at adding more information related to sign language by focusing on Indian
Sign Language (ISL) and American Sign Language (ASL) at shown in Barfi movie as
the study.
Many researchers have been done research about sign language such as
Psycholinguistics Aspect of Sign Language Communication used by Deafblind People
by Cluj-Napoja (2012), she analyzed the communicational complex profile of Deafblind
persons and psycholinguistics perspective the pragmatic aspects of Deafblind children’
and adults’ communication. The Sign Language Learning in Deaf Student and Special
Education Teacher in Integration Program of Hearing Problem by Mohd Hanafi Mohd
Yasin, Mohd Mokhtar Tahar, Safani Bari, Faten Nazren Manaf (2017), they analyzed the
skill level of sign language for deaf students and special education teacher, the learning
media of sign language for deaf students and special education teachers, and the barriers
and challenges faced by deaf students and special education teachers in learning sign
language. Sign Language Problem and Solutions for Deaf and Dumb People by Pooja
Gupta, Dr. Ambuj Kumar Agrawal, Dr. Shahnaz Fatima (2014), they analyzed definition
of sign language, the existing problem, and action are being undertaken or planned that
hopefully will lead situations by deaf and dumb people. Using Sign Language to Teach
Written Language: An Analysis of the strategies used by Teachers of Deaf Children in A
Bilingual Context by Maria Rosa Lissi, Marcela Salinas, Ximena Acuna, Dora Adamo,
Irene Cabrera, and Maribel Gonzales, they analyzed the type of activities and strategies
employed by three children educators and strategies of their potential effect on student’s
acquisition. Sign language not only analyze deaf and dumb people in real life, it can also
analyze in movie. The present study aims at filling these gaps by identifying the features
of sign language, which is reflected in Barfi movie. Furthermore, this study will observe
the way Barfi express his emotion based on the movie.
By the time goes on, many researchers analyze sign language in movie such as A
Psycholinguistics on Sign Language used by Angel in Ayah, Mengapa Aku Berbeda?
Movie by Rosyat (2017), he analyzed the features of sign language and process in
acquiring and exploring the first language used sign language by Angel. A
Psycholinguistic Analysis on Sign Language Used by Helen Keller In the Miracle
Worker Movie by Pratama (2015), A Psycholinguistic Study on Sign Language Used by
Hether Artinian in Sound and Fury Movie by Sholihah (2011), and A Psycholinguistic
Study on Sign Language Used by Jonah in And My Name Is Jonah Movie (2010).
The reason of the researcher to choose this movie because in the previous study
there is no researcher that used Indian movie to analyse in sign language because most of
them are used Indonesian movie and Western movie. Also, this movie, Barfi, there is no
researcher who analyse this movie even use another theories. Sign language is chosen for
this study because this context is rarely to analyses in undergraduate thesis especially in
UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya. Based on explanation above, this study is also similar with
other previous study. But, in this study the researcher will be analyze features and the
way express the feeling uses sign language by Barfi in Barfi Movie (Indian Movie) as the
subject.
There are two research questions in this journal article. The problems of this
journal article are what features of sign language that are used by Barfi in Barfi movie?
And how Barfi expressess the emotion used sign language in Barfi movie?. The purposes
of this journal article are to know and get understanding about the features of sign
language that are used by Barfi and to know and get understanding how Barfi expresses
his emotion used sign language based on Barfi movie.
This journal article is conducted to identify the features of sign language and
exploring the emotion used sign language by Barfi based on Barfi movie. The objecct is
taken from Indian movie which describes the sign languagge and expresses the emotion
based on the scene of the movie itselff. Not only the scene, but the screen shooting and
the dialogue help the researcher to collect the data.
A. Sign language
Deaf-blind people have many different ways to communicate to each otherr. The
methods they use is vary. One of the method to communicate that used by deaf-blind
people is using sign language. Based on Hollis (2011:5), sign language can vary from
country to country, even among those whose first language is English. It can be
concluded; sign language can be different and it is begun from country to country
although there is a person used English for the first language.
In the communication, a deaf and dumb person has their own form of sign
language in daily. They always think about their minds. According to Rene Descartes
(Klima and Bellugi, 1979), the men who were born in the deaf condition, they have
ability to talk with other people in their habit by using sign language for making them
understand. From the explanation above, sign language is the important thing for the deaf
and dumb people to help and to interact among people. Sign language is also needed for
communication in their society the deaf and dumb although they have had ability to talk
with others. Sign language is very important and useful for all the deaf and dumb people
in their society.
B. FEATURES OF SIGN LANGUAGE
1. Finger Spelling
Finger spelling is a one of method to communicating with the hands which is
closely linked to sign language. However unlike sign language, it is not a language in ts
own right and does not have grammatical structures and syntaxes. Rather, it is a way of
spelling out words instead of interpreting them as a gesture. This means that anyone who
knows the finger spelling alphabet can comunicate-however, it can be a lengthy process
as every letter has to be spelt and is therefore not widely used for general conversations
(signedlanguage.co.uk). Finger spelling is the communication in sign language of a word
or other expression by rendering its written form letter by letter in manual alphabet
(Dictionary.com). Finger spelling is the process of spelling words by using signs that use
by letters of the word. This feature uses the fingers hand of the deaf people and little bit
mouth (sound) to make other people understand. Finger spelling is most often used to
spell names of people, places, books, film titles, products and other words for which no
sign exists. But it can also be used for spelling words for which the person does not know
the sign. Finger spelling can be a part of the sign language. For example, some signs start
by finger spelling of the first letter which is followed moving hands or making other
gesture.
2. Spatial Grammar and Simultaneity
Sign Languages exploit the unique features of the visual medium (sight), but
may also exploit tactile features (tactile sign language). Sign language, on the other hand,
is visual and, hence, can use simultaneous expression, although this is limited
articulatory and linguistically. One way in which many sign languages take advantage of
the spatial nature of the language is through the use of classifiers. The use of two manual
articulators is subject to motor constraints, resulting in a large extent of symmetry or
signing with one articulatory only.
In the spatial grammar and simultaneity, this is the way for the deafness
impairment people to inform the information using body posture and facial expression
and they also use the hand motion for helping the other people understand about the
meaning of the information. The pattern of spatial grammar and simultaneity is the
representations use hand gestures, movement, orientation of the fingers, arms or body
and facial expressions to deliver in one sentence about a speaker’s idea.
3. Placement
Placement is used for signing the place around the deaf people. Placement is used
in relation to the pacing or establishing of signs in space. The signer locates or places
particular referent within the signing space in different types of relationship with the
signer and with the other referents. This feature uses the eyes gesture and the hand for
pointing the space.
So for example once a signer has set up ‘placement’ of a particular sign- i.e. ‘the
house is over there’ by signing the word ‘house’ and ‘putting it in a space in front of you’
– i.e. ‘placing it’ then the signer can use his eye gaze and directional verbs to make
reference to this particular sign.
4. Non-manual feature
In the sign language communication, there some kinds of the feature and one of
them is non-manual feature. Non-manual features are actions produced by any part of the
body other than the hands. It uses to interact and give information by using part of the
body with hands such as cheeks, mouth, eyes, mouth, cheeks, face, head, shoulders and
torso. For example, the body may twist right or left, lean forwards or backwards and the
shoulders may hunchh, shrug or droop.
The signer can use of non manual features to ask questions, negations, general
responses or attitudes. The signer may use non manual question markers such as
furrowed eye brows and hunched shoulders or raised eyebrow and open mouth to
indicate a questioning attitude. Similary the signer may use the negative headshake
without any additional manual sign. It is common to see a signer use non manual feature
alongside manual signs rather than in isolation.
5. Handling/Gasping
Handshapes can serve as a cue to distinguish between these two word classess.
Handshapes representing characteristics of the object itself (object handshapes) and
handshapes representing how the object is handled (handling handshapes) (Brentari:2).
Hand configuration more commonly handshape describe the extension or flexion of one
or more fingers and the orientation of the hand relative to the body and can be described
in terms of a hierarchy of complexity, where the ‘simplest’ handshapes involve the
fewest number of features (selection of fingers, contact between fingers,etc.) (Morgan,
2005). Handling/gasping is the manner for making other people understand with action
and hold something. Handling/gasping is about the feature that is useful for telling the
thing that is held by deaf people. This sign language is only done by using the hands and
action. It can be use different hand shapes that show you how physically hold, or use
something. For example, sewing with a needle, or doing the ironing. These are described
as iconic signs as they often “look” how you actually perform something.
6. Flat Surface
Surface is one type of handshapes. Surface refer to the pyhhsical properties of an
object such as flat surface (Bentari,20). It uses to create a representation of a surface. Flat
surface means, it is the feature in the sign language for explaining or telling something
that refers to the flat thing like wall, board or others.
C. EMOTION
An emotion is a feeling such as happiness, love, fear, anger, or hatred, which can
be caused by the situation that you are in or the people you are with
(collinsdictionary.com). Emotions is difficult to define but always consist of feelings,
behavior, physiological change and cognitions and always occurs in a particular context
which influences it. Its major function is to give information to the individual about their
interaction with the world. From an everyday perspective, the core aspects of emotion
are to do with its expression (largely, although not solely, by the face) and its
recognition.
Although there are clearly many different types of emotions, they all have some
common characteristics. First, emotions are largely non-purposeful and instinctive.
Second, on the physiological level, as you might expect, emotional behaviors are closely
tied to subcortical structures and the autonomic nervous system and third basic
characterisctics of emootions is that , to a larger degree, they appear to be innate. For
example, sociologist have found that facial expressions associated with the basic
emotions such as fear, anger, and happiness at the same across cultures (Hall,1998).
Basically, there are four or five basic emotions, basic in the sense of being clearlly
biologiclly grounded and important to the evolutionary survival of the individual. These
are : anxiety/fear, sadness, anger, happiness/joy and disgust. In the other hand, there
negative emotion categories. In negative emotions, there are five main categories of
negative emotions such as Sadness, Anxiety, Anger, Guilt, Shame or Embrrassment. If
you are aware of what negative emotion you are feeling, but you are not sure what
automatic thoughts are causing it, you may be able to figure out the thoughts by
assuming that it is going to be a certain type.
1. Sadness : Self-critical thoughts
Pessimistic thoughts
Thoughts of loss or failure
2. Anxiety : Thoughts of something bad that could happen in the future
Thoughts of threat, risk or danger
What-if thoughts
3. Anger : “should” thoughts
Thoughts of having been harmed, having been treated unfairly
Thoughts of rules being broken
4. Guilt : Thought if having harmed someone
Thoughts of having done something that goes againts your own morals
Sense of responsibility for a negative outcome
5. Shame/Embrrassment : Thoughts that other will judge flaws or mistakes in a
negative way
II. RESEARCH METHOD
This journal article used content analysis design. Content analysis is a set of
procedures for collecting and organizing information in a standardized format that allows
analysts to make inferences about the characteristics and meaning of written and other
recorded material (Chelimsky, 1989:6). The researcher focused on the information with
describing and interpreting the data. This research also used qualitative content analysis
for completing this research project because it was conducted to describe and interpret
data that had been collected. This research was focused the data which would be taken
from a movie. This study aimed to observe what features of sign language and
expressing emotion which were used by Barfi based on the movie.
The data for this journal article is the features of sign language and expressing the
emotion that will found in Barfi movie. The data source is Barfi movie and the subject of
this journal article is the main character of the movie, Barfi. The data of this present
study are taken from Indian comedy-drama movie that is Barfi movie. The data based on
the script in Barfi movie. The researcher watches the movie first for this journal article
By watch the movie carefully, it will help the researcher to search and find the features
of sign language and emotion in the movie by screen shooting the scene.
The main research instrument in this research is myself who watch, listen, type and
collect the data by find the features of sign language and the expressing emotion use sign
language by Barfi in Barfi movie.
The collecting of data by watched Barfi movie. The researcher only used one
movie for this journal article. First, the researcher looking for Barfi movie in the website
https://indoxxi.net/. Then,download Barfi movie and the subtitle in the website. Third,
the researcher looking for the transcript of the Barfi movie with English language
because there is no transcript using Hindi language. Fourth, the researcher watch the
movie for several times to find the features of sign language and expresssing emotion
used by Barfi. Next, the researcher screen shooting the sign language acquisition use by
Barfi that related with the statement of problem. Last, divide the screen shooting between
the features of sign language and expressing emotion used by Barfi in Barfi movie .
The techniques of data analysis are Identifying the selected data, the classifying the
data that different features and expressing the emotion, and analyses the data. First,
identifying the selected data. After all data were selected, the researcher wanted then
identify the data that indicated the features of sign language and expressing Barfi
emotion that used by Barfi to communicate to other people. In this case, the researcher
focuses on types of sign language such as : finger spelling, spatial grammar and
simultaneity, placement, non-manual features, handling/gasping, and flat surface. The
data identifiction was done by selected scene. The selected scenes that indicated to each
feature.
Second, the classifying the identified data. The researcher classified the identiffied
data to easier to distinguish the features of sign language and expressing Barfi empotion
that used by Barfi and also the meaning of the sign language itself. As the result, the
researcher had easier to draw inferences toward the analysis. The classification was in
the form of table which consist of features of sign language and screen shooting data. But
the script and scene of the movie put below the table then the meaning was signed using
green colour.
Finally, analyses the data. After the data were identified and classified well. The
researcher started to analyse. The analysis were describing and interpreting data that had
been collected which the features of sign language and expressing the emotion.
III. FINDING & DISCUSSION
A. Features of Sign Language
1. Finger Spelling
Finger spelling is the sign language featuress used by deafness impairment
people to spell the nouns (place names, people’s names, names of the objects). The
finger spelling usage in Barfi movie were presented in the scenes and screen shoot
picture below :
Datum I (20.34 - 20.35)
This scene is the moment of Barfi when he meet Shruti at the first time. He
introduces his self with little bit mouth sound and hand gestures. He said “Barfi”
even thought not clear.
After he tells his name. He explain to Shruti and Shruti’s friend that he is deaf
and dumb people. The short conversation presented below (20.34 – 20. 38)
[Barfi] : BARFI (little bit mouth sound and hand gestures)
Saya tuli dan bisu. Ini takdir dari Tuhan (I am deaf and dumb. This is fate
from God) (using sign language)
[Shruti] : (nod her head)
In the beginning, when Barfi introduces him self with voice like that. Shruti
and Shruti’s friend looked confuse. Barfi know that they are confuse, so he is
explain more about his self to them.
The used of this features, finger spelling does not only happen in this scene
but also it can found in other scenes.
Datum II (53.45 – 53.47)
This scene is the moment of Barfi who get caught with Inspector Dutta
because accusation that he is kidnap Jhillmill. As arrive in police office he ask
where is Jhillmill with the sign and mention Jhilmill even thought not clear.
The short conversation presented below (53.33 – 53.49)
[Inspector Dutta] : Baiklah. Katakan (Alright. Tell me)
[Barfi] : JHILMILL (little bit mouth sound and hand gestures
represent Jhilmill)
[Bhola] : Dia bertanya tentang Jhillmill (He is asking about Jhilmill)
Based on this scene, Barfi asked to Bhola where is Jhillmill used hand gestures
which describe Jhillmill. He make an movement about hair that relate with Jhillmill
and mention her name with little bit mouth sound.
2. Spatial Grammar and Simultaneity
The pattern of spatial grammar and simultaneity is the representation the hand,
body and facial in one sentence. Some examples of spatial grammar and
simultaneity usage whice is presented in Barfi movie are :
Datum I (10.03 – 10.04)
This scene is the moment of Barfi when he get caught by Inspectur Dutta and
he will be bring to the police office to explain about Jhilmill.
The short conversation presented below (09.41 – 10.04)
[Shruti] : Inspektur, ada kesalahpahaman (Inspector, there seems to be a
mistake)
[Inspector Dutta] : Ini bukan kesalahan dan terima kasih banyak Ny. Sengupta.
Aku tak kan pernah menangkapnya, jika saja anda tidak
melapor (This is not a mistake. And thank you very much, Mrs.
Sengupta. I would not have caught him, if you had not filed a
complaint)
[Shruti] : Kemana anda akan membawanya? (Where are you taking
him?)
[Inspector Dutta] : London! Hanya bercanda, Ny. Sengupta. Kami akan
membawanya ke Darjeeling. Ayo! (London! Just kidding, Mrs.
Sengupta. We are taking him to Darjeeling)
[Barfi] : Tenang saja (Calm down) (using sign language)
Based on the scene Barfi used spatial grammar and simultaneity representation
by the hands gestures in one sentence. Barfi moved his hand up and down to make
Shruti calm and also to make Shruti understand what does it mean.
Datum II (19.07 – 19.10)
This scene is the moment of Barfi when he meet Shruti for the first time. He
see Shruti in a train and he started to follow her until they can talk to each other.
3. Sad
Datum I (01.23.26)
This scene is the moment when Barfi’s father died even thought he already
do everything to get money for covert his father but after he got the money
and already paid, his father died. He looks really sad.
4. Happy
Datum I (01.51.00)
This scene is the moment of Barfi when he started to decide live with
Jhillmill again. Before Jhillmill decide to leave Barfi. They also live
together, they also help to each other, and comfort to each other.
IV. CONCLUSION
In the journal article analysis, the researcher found some features of sign language
that are useb by Barfi. The first is finger spelling that is found whe Barfi introduces his
name in front of the people and mention his friend’s name. The second is spatial
grammar and simultaneity which is used to make Shruti calm, tell that Shruti is beautiful,
tell that he is a deaf and dumb people, and introduces his father. The third is placement
which is found when Barfi tells about the direction to Hillcart Road. The fourth is non-
manual feature, it is one of the feature happens when Barfi uses his eyes, hand, and
mouth. The fifth is handling/gasping which is used by Barfi to show his heart and give it
to Shruti. One of these features, the most domination is non-manual features because
Barfi always used his part og body to inform and interact to other people. For the
emotion, the researcher found four types of emotion such as angry, dissapointed, sad, and
happy.
The researcher hope that this present study could help people who want to know the
features of sign language and also how the way the deaf and dumb people express their
feeling uses sign language and enlarge the view of English Department’s student who
want to know more about sign language, who want to analyze sign language, and also
have a new knowledge from this research. The result of this study is beneficial to help
the teachers or the parents who have deaf children to understand well about the deaf and
dumb people.
V. REFERENCES
Brentari, Diane. Acquiring word class disctinctions in American Sign Language:
Evidence from Handshape. University of Chicago, Department of Linguistics
Gupta,Pooja, Dr. Ambuj Kumar Agrawal, Dr. Shahnaz Fatima. (2014). Sign
Language Problem and Solutions for Deaf and Dumb People.
Hall, Richard H. (1998). Emotion. Pdf
Hollis, S. (2011). Sign Language for Beginner. Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Print Smarter.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language
Jodai,Hojat. (2011). An Introduction to Psycholinguistics. The University of Guilan
Dr. Barekat
Klima, ES, and Bellugi, U. (1979). The Sign of Language. Cambridge: Hardvard
University Press. Accesses 8 October 2017 from
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php/term:JournalofAmericanMedicalAssosiation
Learnsignlanguage. (2010). Non Manual Features in BSL. Retriewed December
20,2017 from https://learnsignlanguage.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/non-manual-
features-in-bsl/
Learnsignlanguage. (2009). Placement in British Sign Language. Retriewed
December 20,2017 from
http://www.google.co.id/amp/s/learnsignlanguage.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/placem
ent-in-british-sign-language/amp
Lissi, Maria Rosa, Marcela Salinas, Ximena Acuna, Dora Adamo, Irene Cabrera, and
Maribel Gonzales. (2010).Using Sign Language to Teach Written Language: An
Analysis of the strategies used by Teachers of Deaf Children in A Bilingual Context.
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