海角大神

A new language centered around touch is spreading within the DeafBlind community and revolutionizing how its members communicate.听

Protactile, or PT, emerged in Seattle in 2007, when a group of DeafBlind people began exploring their natural tactile instincts. PT is not meant to be heard or seen. Instead, the speaker articulates a message by applying different touches to the receiver鈥檚 hands, arms, and other parts of the body. Today, thousands of people have expanded PT鈥檚 reach, and the language continues to evolve as new expressions emerge, unique to PT and derived from DeafBlind people鈥檚 experiences.

PT aims to remove comprehension barriers in traditional communication methods used by DeafBlind people, such as American Sign Language (ASL). Jaimi Lard, a DeafBlind woman who works as a public speaker at Perkins School for the Blind, says sign languages were created to be seen, not felt. This led to misunderstandings as she tried to physically track other people's ASL. As a result, she sometimes participated in activities without grasping what was happening. But with PT, 鈥渨e are able to be included in more,鈥� says Ms. Lard in ASL.听

Ms. Lard and her hearing and sighted interpreter, Christine Dwyer, have incorporated elements of PT in their communication. 鈥淚鈥檝e known [Jaimi] for 30 years,鈥� says Ms. Dwyer at a recent talk she gave with Ms. Lard. 鈥淪eeing the difference that Jaimi and I have been able to do in our communication in the past year is just amazing.鈥�

Editors鈥� note: The Monitor has updated references in this story to DeafBlind to reflect the preference of many members of this community.

This video is meant to be watched, but we understand that is not an option for everybody. For those who are unable to watch or listen, we have provided a听transcript of the video below.听

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Video Transcript

The video opens with a scene of Jaimi Lard, a DeafBlind woman, and Christine Dwyer, a hearing and sighted interpreter. They are demonstrating elements of Protactile language together. Christine describes the layout of a building to Jaimi in Protactile. Jaimi holds out one hand, palm up, to represent the floor. A close up shows Christine鈥檚 hand 鈥渨alking鈥� with two fingers on Jaimi鈥檚 palm. Jaimi keeps her other hand on top of Christine鈥檚 hand to follow her movements. Then Christine signs and applies various touches to Jaimi鈥檚 palm. Jing Peng, reporter and the narrator of this video, sits next to them and watches. There is a marimba soundtrack, which gets softer as the male narrator begins to speak.

NARRATOR: This is a new language that could change the lives of thousands of DeafBlind people.

The video cuts to a shot of Christine describing a detachable camera lens to Jaimi. Jaimi makes a loose fist to represent the lens. Christine taps on Jaimi鈥檚 hand and applies twisting motions to it. Jaimi鈥檚 other hand stays on one of Christine鈥檚 hands to track her movements.

The words 鈥淧rotactile (PT)鈥� appear on the top left of the screen.

NARRATOR:听It鈥檚 called Protactile, or PT, and it鈥檚 based entirely on the sense of touch.

The video cuts to a scene of four DeafBlind听people speaking PT. Two people are seated directly in front of the camera, and two others are seated further in the background. Each pair of people sit closely together, facing each other, the outer sides of their thighs pressed together. As the speaker talks with their hands, the person receiving the message follows the conversation with one hand, and uses the other hand to provide reactions on the speaker鈥檚 leg.

The video then cuts to another scene, where eight DeafBlind听people are seated in four pairs in one long row. They are talking in PT.

NARRATOR: PT emerged in 2007 in the DeafBlind听community. And it鈥檚 still growing and spreading.

The video cuts to a scene of Jaimi and Christine demonstrating elements of PT to around 50 people in a conference room. Jaimi and Christine stand side by side. Jaimi holds out her hand, palm up. Christine holds Jaimi鈥檚 palm with one hand. Her other hand traces lines on the palm, then applies various finger taps to it. Jaimi鈥檚 other hand follows Christine鈥檚 hand movement.

The text 鈥淛aimi Lard鈥� and 鈥淐hristine Dwyer鈥� appear on screen, near Jaimi and Christine respectively. Each name has an arrow pointing to the person it refers to.听

NARRATOR:听This is Jaimi Lard, she and her hearing and sighted interpreter, Christine Dwyer, have incorporated elements of PT in their communication.

CHRISTINE (addressing the audience): I鈥檝e known her for 30 years, and we have changed the way we communicate.

The video cuts to an interview setting. Jaimi sits in the middle of an office, flanked on either side by Christine and Jing. The text 鈥淛ing Peng, Reporter鈥� appears under Jing鈥檚 chest. Both Christine and Jing have one hand placed on Jaimi鈥檚 shoulder. Christine and Jaimi鈥檚 knees touch.

NARRATOR:听For this interview, Jaimi speaks in American Sign Language, which Christine interprets.

JAIMI (answering a question about PT): By getting it tactilely, we were able to be included in more.

The video cuts back to the conference room. Jaimi addresses her audience in ASL. Christine stands next to Jaimi, keeping one hand on Jaimi鈥檚 back as she interprets.

JAIMI (addressing the audience): I was born deaf and blind.

NARRATOR: Jaimi works as a diversity speaker at Perkins School for the Blind.

The video cuts to Jaimi鈥檚 apartment. Jaimi chats in ASL with a Deaf Japanese woman named Kasumi. Kasumi speaks. Jaimi puts a hand on hers to track the signs. Jaimi smiles and signs 鈥測es鈥� with her other hand.

In the next shot, Kasumi teaches Jaimi the sign 鈥渇lower鈥� in Japanese Sign Language. Jaimi feels the sign with both hands and copies it. The sign starts with two cupped hands pressed together. Then the wrists rotate as the palms open and all ten fingers spread out like petals.

NARRATOR:听Growing up, Jaimi learned American Sign Language, or ASL. That鈥檚 one of the ways DeafBlind听people communicate: by placing one鈥檚 hand over the speaker鈥檚 to feel what they鈥檙e signing. But, there鈥檚 a problem.

JAIMI (speaking during the interview): American Sign Language is a visual language.

The video cuts to Jaimi and Christine speaking ASL to Kasumi in the lobby of a building. Kasumi watches their signs and nods.

NARRATOR:听ASL is designed for sighted Deaf people. It鈥檚 meant to be seen. And many gestures that make sense to your eyes make little sense when you touch them.

The video cuts back to the interview setting. Jaimi and Christine demonstrate elements of ASL that are hard to follow for some DeafBlind听people. Christine describes a space by pointing at imaginary objects in the air, while Jaimi tracks her signs with one hand.

JAIMI (speaking during the interview): There were things I was misunderstanding. I just began to do a nod, and just go 鈥榰h-huh, uh-huh,鈥� and go along with things. But I wasn鈥檛 always sure what I was going along with.

NARRATOR: It鈥檚 the kind of passivity that could hurt DeafBlind听people鈥檚 independence and autonomy.

The video cuts to Jaimi鈥檚 office. Jaimi writes an email at her computer, using an app that magnifies texts on her screen. She leans forward, her face close to the monitor. She clicks the button 鈥渃ompose,鈥� types on her keyboard. Her sunglass lenses reflect the magnified letters on her screen.

The soundtrack changes to an upbeat, rhythmic marimba, as the video transitions to a montage of PT demonstration by Jelica Nuccio and aj granda, two leaders of the PT movement. They sit close together, half facing the camera, half facing each other. Their knees touch. In the first shot, aj describes a waterfall to Jelica. Her palm makes fast, repeated rubs on Jelica鈥檚 hand and forearm, showing the intensity of the water flow. The rubs become slower and gentler, indicating a weaker water current.

In the next shot, aj describes a cooking procedure. Jelica holds out her hand, palm up, to represent the pan. On both sides of the hand, aj traces shapes and applies various taps, showing how the batter spreads out on the pan, how the fire licks the underside of the pan, and how the batter bubbles as it heats up.听

NARRATOR: But in the mid-2000s, a group of DeafBlind听people in Seattle realized they should explore their natural tactile instincts, and PT was born in the process.

The last shot of the montage is a close up of Jelica and aj鈥檚 legs. Jelica maps out spatial information aj鈥檚 thigh, tracing lines and applying various finger taps. When Jelica finishes, aj taps and scratches Jelica鈥檚 thigh in response.

NARRATOR: Not meant for sight, PT uses the receiver鈥檚 body as the medium for communication.听Here鈥檚 an example of how it's different from ASL: Christine will first use ASL to describe the layout of a building.

The video cuts back to the interview setting. Christine guides Jaimi鈥檚 hands around in the air to trace out the shape of the building. She then points to different parts of the imaginary building and signs what鈥檚 in those areas. Christine voices what she signs: 鈥淚n the middle is the tower. And on the sides are two hallways. This one has classrooms, this side has offices. But if I鈥檓 going to change it to PT, I鈥檓 going to ask Jaimi to give me her hand. And I can use this to draw the visual information.鈥�

The scene continues. Christine pats Jaimi鈥檚 hand, which has been placed on top of hers, to signal that she wants Jaimi鈥檚 other hand for mapping purposes. Jaimi holds out her hand, palm up. Christine applies finger taps to Jaimi鈥檚 palm to indicate the center of the building, then she draws the two hallways extending from either side of the center, one down Jaimi鈥檚 forearm, the other up to her fingertips. She then taps the areas on Jaimi鈥檚 palm and arm that correspond to the hallways, and explains what each side contains. She voices what she signs: 鈥淥n each side are hallways, with classrooms and offices.鈥�

Christine then indicates the route to the bathroom. She uses two fingers to walk on Jaimi鈥檚 palm, and signs to add information. Christine voices what she is telling Jaimi: 鈥淚n this hall way you go left to the end. And then take a right. The second door on your left is the bathroom. Jaimi smiles in excitement.

JAIMI: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 clearer.鈥�

The video cuts to the conference room. During a break in the presentation, Christine draws spatial information on Jaimi鈥檚 palm. A woman walks up to converse with them.

NARRATOR: And this sense of one鈥檚 surroundings is vital for DeafBlind听people鈥檚 safety and autonomy.

The video cuts to another montage of PT demonstration by Jelica Nuccio and aj granda. They sit close together, half facing the camera, half facing each other. Their knees touch. The first shot shows Jelica touching aj鈥檚 head and shoulders to describe the length of a person鈥檚 hair. One of aj鈥檚 hands rests on Jelica鈥檚 thigh, and makes tapping motions in response to Jelica鈥檚 description. Two arrows appear on screen, indicating the two ways in which information flows between aj and Jelica. One arrow follows Jelica鈥檚 arm and points to aj. The other arrow points from aj鈥檚 hand on Jelica鈥檚 thigh to Jelica.

NARRATOR: Another key innovation of PT is its two-way communication channel between the speaker and the receiver.

The next shot of the PT montage shows aj describing an intense water current. Her palm makes forceful, successive rubs on Jelica鈥檚 arm. Jelica鈥檚 other hand, placed on aj鈥檚 thigh, makes repeated tapping and scratching motions as Jelica receives aj鈥檚 message. An arrow points to Jelica鈥檚 hand to highlight its movements.

NARRATOR: This allows the receiver to transmit reactions and emotions in real time without interrupting the speaker, through a mechanism called backchanneling.

The next shot of the PT montage starts with Jelica speaking to aj, who gives a tap on Jelica鈥檚 leg. Two arrows on screen indicate the two-way information flow. Jelica finishes her sentence. As aj starts to speak, she lifts her hand from Jelica鈥檚 thigh, and Jelica in turn places a hand on aj鈥檚 thigh to provide feedback. The two arrows fade out and two new arrows pointing in the opposite direction fade in.

NARRATOR: This two-way flow is crucial for a sense of connection and engagement.

Video transitions back to the interview setting. Reporter Jing鈥檚 hand stays on Jaimi鈥檚 shoulder as he listens to her answer. At one point, Jing taps Jaimi鈥檚 shoulder repeatedly, and a circle appears around his hand to highlight the movement. Jaimi smiles and nods in response.

NARRATOR: During our interview, Christine and I gave tactile feedback to Jaimi.

A shot of Christine tapping Jaimi鈥檚 thigh repeatedly. A circle highlights the hand movement.

NARRATOR: Here, Christine is nodding.

A close up of Christine鈥檚 hand making rapid, repeated scratches on Jaimi鈥檚 shoulder. Christine鈥檚 laughter can be heard off screen.

NARRATOR: Here, she is laughing.

JAIMI (speaking during the interview): If there was no backchanneling, then you kind of get distracted. Because you鈥檙e trying to figure out: Are they still with me in this conversation? Did the person turn away? But by having a constant touch, it makes me feel like you care about this conversation, and you care about me. If I trust you, then we鈥檙e going to have a much clearer conversation.

Video cuts to Jaimi and Christine in the conference room. As Jaimi gives her presentation, Christine places her hand now on Jaimi鈥檚 back, now on her shoulder. A montage shows Christine鈥檚 hand tapping, scratching and closing into a fist to rub Jaimi鈥檚 back. As Jaimi and Christine laugh, Christine scratches Jaimi鈥檚 shoulder to convey her mood.

In the next sequence, the audience watches a video about Jaimi鈥檚 life. A clip shows Jaimi making coffee in her kitchen. The video鈥檚 female narrator, voicing Jaimi鈥檚 perspective, says: 鈥淢y hands are not only tools. They are my eyes and ears too. The way people touch my hands is important: Never grab or pull, using a light touch and gentle guide is much politer.鈥� A blind woman can be seen among the audience. A man in a wheelchair sits in the front row.听Jaimi and Christine chat in ASL as audience members view the video.

Video cuts to the interview setting. Christine uses PT鈥檚 mapping technique to describe a space to Jaimi. A close up show Jaimi鈥檚 hand on top of Christine鈥檚.

NARRATOR: Jaimi and Christine are among the thousands of people who have been exposed to PT. As the young language grows, it鈥檚 seeing new expressions rooted in DeafBlind听people鈥檚 experience that don鈥檛 exist in any other language.

The video soundtrack rises in intensity as the video cuts to a montage of different aspects of PT. In the first clip, two women interlocutors break into laughter. They guide each other鈥檚 hand to their own throat, so the other person can feel the vibration.

The next clip shows a woman talking to two other women in PT. The three sit close together in a cluster, facing each other, their knees touching. The speaker鈥檚 two hands make mirroring movements, conveying the same message to the two receivers, who follow what is said with one hand. Both receivers hold out their other hand, palm up, toward the speaker. The two palm鈥檚 sides touch. The speaker applies various touches to the two hands, the receivers鈥� shoulders, and her own chest.

The next sequence shows a man performing PT poetry for two women. All three sit close together, facing each other, knees touching. The man鈥檚 hands make mirroring movements on the two receivers鈥� body. His hands, placed on the back of the women鈥檚 heads, start to shake rapidly. Then the shaking hands travel down the receivers鈥� necks, across their chests, and down their arms to their hands, which are placed on the man鈥檚 knees. His hands clasp their hands, and all six hands slowly lift up, continuously shaking, above their heads. The shaking stops.

NARRATOR: It鈥檚 a new frontier of communication and connection.

JAIMI (speaking during the interview): I really want more training actually. I鈥檝e learned some, but I don鈥檛 really have it all down in depth. So, I would like to certainly learn some more.

Video cuts back to the conference room. Jaimi and Christine thank their audience at the end of the presentation. The audience applauds. Instead of clapping, they shake their open palms above their heads and stomp the ground with their feet. Jaimi and Christine also lift their hands and shake their palms. Then Jaimi and Christine pat each other鈥檚 shoulders in celebration.听Video cuts to black.

Credit screen: This video is produced by Jingnan Peng. Production supervisor: Samantha Laine Perfas. Additional clips from DeafBlind Interpreting.听

Video ends.