A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION AND JAPANESE SIGN LANGUAGE (NIHON SHUWA) IN EPISODES 1–5 OF THE DRAMA SILENT BY MIKU UKUBATA

ANALISIS SEMIOTIKA KOMUNIKASI NONVERBAL DAN 日本手話 (NIHON SHUWA) PADAドラマ SILENT EPISODE 1-5 KARYA MIKU UKUBATA

Abstract

The gap in language proficiency between the hearing and deaf communities creates complex barriers to cross-sensory interpersonal interaction; therefore, this study focuses on the mechanisms for addressing this language gap through the visual sign system used in the Japanese drama series Silent (Episodes 1–5). To dissect the asymmetry in auditory and vocal channels among the characters, the primary analysis employed Charles Sanders Peirce’s triadic relationship (Representamen, Object, Interpretant), supported by a trichotomous classification of objects (icon, index, symbol) as a complementary tool to refine the categorization of signs, which is then combined with the visual phonological parameters of sign language and the concept of grammatical facial expressions. Through a qualitative descriptive approach using the documentation method, the data reduction process successfully collected a total of 30 data units, with the discussion limited in depth to 10 key data points that play the most crucial roles in the storyline and the strength of the analysis. Using a triadic analytical framework reinforced by this object-based trichotomy, the research findings indicate that natural nonverbal elements (ocular, kinesic, proxemic, haptic, and object mediation) are classified within the realm of Indexical Signs (Index) because they operate on the basis of direct causal relationships, where these signs are shown to function effectively as conveyors and harmonizers of emotions and messages in the pre-speech phase to set the tone of the discourse. Meanwhile, the manual sign system of Nihon Shuwa (Japanese Sign Language), finger spelling (yubimoji), and its expanded substitute media (digital text-to-speech -Speech and written orthography) are classified within the realm of Symbolic Signs (Symbols) because their meanings are based on social conventions and agreed-upon syntactic rules, in which the non-manual facial components function as Grammatical Facial Expressions with standard morphosyntactic functions. This study concludes that the operation of the three main triadic elements, supplemented by the object trichotomy framework, empirically demonstrates the role of sign language and its substitute media as a bridge of communication that offers absolute stability of meaning to neutralize biological asymmetry, break down sociolinguistic barriers, and construct an inclusive and equitable discursive space.