Abstract
This paper reports how finger braille interpreters communicate multimodal information to the deafblind. Finger
braille is a mode of communication that is used by and for deafblind people. Finger braille interpreters convey
not only the content of an interlocutor’s utterances but also various behavioral and environmental information.
Focusing on finger braille interpretation for Dr. Satoshi Fukushima, a deafblind man, we observed when and how
interpreters communicate the multimodality of the interlocutor’s behavior, such as acknowledgment, nodding,
laughter, and pointing gestures. The results suggest that multimodal information, which the interpreters convey
through the deafblind person’s hands, can help the deafblind person understand the essence of the interlocutor’s
remarks.
