Bengkala – As the implementation of International Cooperation, Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) initiated an international research collaboration program with University de Moncton, Canada. This program was led by Dr. I Dewa Gede Budi Utama, S.Pd., M.Hum., a lecturer in the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Program, along with five researchers from the University of Moncton. The activity, entitled Kolok Identity in Public Sign, was initiated since November 2023, continued continuously until November 18, 2024 in Bengkala Village.
Dewa Gede Budi Utama, well-known as Pak Dedi, stated that this research aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the existence of the Kolok (Mutes) community in Bengkala Village. “We hope that through this activity, their identity (the deaf-mutes community, red.) will be represented in the public sphere. Furthermore, this academic collaboration is an important step in strengthening Undiksha’s international network and opening up opportunities for cross-border research that addresses socio-cultural issues in the community,” he said.
Charles Gaucher, one of the team from Moncton, expressed the same thing, emphasizing that Bengkala Village is one of the villages that has unique characteristics, it was Deaf-Mute Public Sign. “It’s not just the existence of the kolok (mutes) community, but also the use of local sign language for deaf people. This language has become a means of daily communication, both among deaf people and with the general public, demonstrating a unique social harmony,” he said.
As information, Bengkala Village, located in Kubutambahan District, Buleleng Regency, Bali, is widely known as the “Village of the Mutes (Kolok)”. It was because approximately 2% of the village’s population was born deaf and mute.
The representation of the Kolok (Deaf-Mutes) community’s identity is manifested in the public space of Bengkala Village, through signs that reflect the unique culture and identity of the community. In addition to Gaucher, there were three other academics who were members of this team, such as: Lilian Negura, Geneviève Piérart, and Jessica Breau who designed and conducted a field study related to the identity of the Kolok community in public spaces. (Adm)
