Author Information
Puneet Kumar Gupta, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, IndiaP. J. Mathew Martin, University of Mumbai, India
Anjali Pahad, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India
Varsha Parikh, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India
Sunil Sahasrabudhe, University of Mumbai, India
Abstract
This study examines communication dynamics in job interviews involving Deaf candidates, Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpreters, and employers in urban India. Using Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) Theory and Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), it explores how meaning is co-constructed and sometimes lost in triadic interpreted interactions. The research focuses on a Deaf livelihood fair in Mumbai, investigating how interpreters’ presence shapes employers’ perceptions of Deaf candidates, especially when employers lack Deaf cultural awareness. Qualitative conversation analysis of video-recorded mock interviews (Deaf participants N = 167, interpreters N = 8, employers N = 18), along with semi-structured interviews, reveals several challenges. Deaf candidates face delayed turn-taking and restricted expressiveness, while interpreters balance neutrality with cultural mediation. Employers often struggle to interpret non-verbal cues, frequently simplifying questions. Communication features such as clarification loops, repeated prompts, and lack of backchannel responses lead to misunderstandings, sometimes seen as disengagement. Motivated by India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), this study addresses persistent communication barriers despite policy mandates for inclusive hiring. The findings highlight the importance of Deaf cultural training for employers, preparatory sessions for interpreters, and greater use of visual portfolios and non-verbal strategies in interviews. By shedding light on the lived realities of Deaf job seekers, this research advocates for more ethical, linguistically inclusive employment practices for persons with disabilities in India.
Paper Information
Conference: KAMC2025Stream: Communication
This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Gupta P., Martin P., Pahad A., Parikh V., & Sahasrabudhe S. (2026) Bridging Silences: Analysing Triadic Communication in Job Interviews Involving Deaf Candidates, ISL Interpreters, and Employers in India ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 41-46) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.5
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.5
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