The literature on sign linguistics has consistently affirmed that sign languages are distinct from spontaneous gestures in oral communication. Therefore, now is the time to investigate the gestural aspects of sign languages both linguistically and socioculturally (Kusters & Sahasrabudhe, 2018).

This paper focuses on the ethnographic analysis of descriptive expressions in Kata Kolok, a local sign language in Bengkala in Bali, Indonesia. Considering the high population of deaf people and their local sign language, Bengkala is known as a typical place for shared sign language communities such as Martha’s Vineyard in the United States, introduced by Nora Ellen Groce’s book, Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language (Groce, 1985).

This paper reveals ethnographically that the daily conversation in Kata Kolok includes many culturally descriptive expressions. They are not spontaneous gestures but adhere to a consistent system involving phrasal patterns, repetitions, paraphrasing, and concrete examples that align with cinematic strategies. Notably, the cinematic nature of these expressions bears similarities to Dirksen Bauman’s arguments on the poetics of American Sign Language (Bauman, 2006).

This paper highlights the significance of these artistically cinematic expression strategies in Kata Kolok communications, not only in their daily interactions but also particularly when interacting with foreign tourists, who neither share the language nor the culture. Within the realm of ordinary expressions in this local signing, there is the emergence of innovative artistic signing practices, which actively enhance communication with  “others.”