Touch and Haptic Sensations in Conversations Between Deafblind Signers and in Tactile Interpreting

This study explores how individuals with acquired deafblindness perceive touch and haptic sensations. Using authentic conversational data, it examines how deafblind signers experience and exchange tactile signals alongside sign language, including hesitations and incomplete expressions. The research compares peer interactions with tactile interpreting, noting differences in how interpreters use touch on hands, arms, and backs. Findings reveal that deafblind signers employ hands, arms, and knees for tactile communication, highlighting distinct uses of haptic sensations and expanding understanding of semiotic resources in tactile discourse.