Now, to the Indonesian island of Bali, where just a small percentage of the population is deaf and dumb. In one hamlet, though, they have no trouble communicating because almost everyone has learnt to use sign language, whether they are hearing impaired or not.

The village Bengkala, located in the Buleleng Regency of Bali, Indonesia. In Bengkala, a remarkable phenomenon known as "Kata Kolok" has emerged. Kata Kolok, which translates to "deaf talk" in Indonesian, is a unique sign language developed by the community that enables communication between the hearing and the deaf.

The prevalence of deafness in Bengkala is unusually high compared to the global average. It is estimated that around 2% of the village population is born with profound hearing loss. Due to the significant number of deaf individuals, the community has developed a shared understanding and knowledge of sign language.

What makes Bengkala truly special is that the hearing individuals in the village have embraced sign language as well. From an early age, hearing children learn Kata Kolok alongside spoken language. As a result, the entire community has become bilingual, proficient in both Kata Kolok and the Balinese language.

The adoption of sign language by the hearing population in Bengkala has created a unique inclusive environment. Deaf individuals can actively participate in community activities, engage in conversations, and access various services without barriers. This has fostered a sense of belonging and unity within the village.

#Bali #KataKolok #DeafandDumb
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