Cover image via SAYS
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For most, conversations are built on spoken words.
But for Muhammad Nabil Mohd Nazrol, communication has always lived in the movement of hands.
As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Nabil grew up between two worlds: one of sound and one of silence.
He learned to sign before he could speak, becoming a vital bridge between his deaf parents and a hearing world that doesn't always understand them.
Today, Nabil helps his parents run their beloved Abang Cendol Durian Tunggal stall in Melaka.
At the same time, he is a certified sign language interpreter and a TikTok creator, using his platform to foster understanding between the deaf and hearing communities.
Nabil's journey into the world of sign language began not in a classroom, but at home
His father was born deaf and mute, while his mother lost her hearing due to a high fever during her childhood.
From as young as 3 or 4 years old, Nabil was already learning how to communicate through signs.
"I didn't even go to classes; I learned from my parents," he told SAYS.
However, what his parents taught him wasn't formal sign language. It was something more personal — a homegrown system shaped by necessity and love.
"My parents couldn't teach me how other people use sign language.
"So they taught me simple things like 'mother', 'father', 'eat', 'drink'," Nabil shared as he signed those words.
His very first word was a hand sign for milk, a simple gesture that would become the foundation of his bilingual childhood.
It wasn't until he entered kindergarten that Nabil realised he could speak.
"When I entered school, I suddenly realised I could use my voice outside. I must've picked it up from my aunts or adults around me," he said.
At home, there was never a strict divide between the deaf and hearing worlds. Nabil simply adapted, switching naturally between signing and speaking depending on his environment.
In 2013, when Nabil was just 6, his parents opened Abang Cendol Durian Tunggal
What began as a small cendol and pisang goreng stall would grew into a beloved community fixture.
However, in those early days, customers didn't know about his parents' hearing loss.
"Because my sister and I can communicate with other people, we helped our parents," Nabil recalled.
From that point on, he took on a role far beyond his years.
Whether it was taking orders, handling payments, or explaining their situation to confused customers, Nabil became their voice in a world that often struggled to understand them.
"I've been helping them my whole life. I do it willingly with sincerity.
"I don't view it as a burden. My parents needed a bridge to navigate a world that doesn't always understand them. I know they need me, and that's enough," he said.
Nabil's natural fluency in both spoken language and signing eventually led him down an unexpected path
In 2019, while still in Primary 6, he was asked to interpret at a meeting when no official interpreter was available.
That moment sparked his journey to becoming a professional interpreter. Despite being a native user, he enrolled in sign language classes to earn his licence.
"Actually, I already know sign language, but I had to attend to get the translator's licence. To get a bit more knowledge, and also to get the certificate," he said.
Through formal education, he learned to distinguish between informal "home signs" and standardised sign language used within the wider deaf community.
Today, he is a certified sign language interpreter with the Melaka Deaf Association, earning side income while supporting his family.
Nabil creates daily content teaching sign language.
Image via @nabilnazrol (TikTok)When asked about the Ministry of Education's plan to introduce sign language in schools by 2027, Nabil was enthusiastic
"My parents and I think that's great because then more people will know what sign language is like," the 19-year-old said.
He added that the deaf community also welcomes the initiative, seeing it as a step towards a more inclusive society with fewer communication barriers.
Reflecting on his childhood, Nabil said growing up as a CODA wasn't always easy
"I grew up with people insulting me. But that was in the past when they were kids," he recounted.
"Now, they understand, 'Oh, it turns out he has deaf parents.'"
Through it all, his family remains his anchor. He shared that the secret to his parents' 24-year marriage, which began after they met at a vocational college in Shah Alam, is one powerful word: "Sabar" (patience).
Looking ahead, Nabil hopes for a future where deaf individuals are treated with dignity and given equal professional opportunities.
"Being deaf isn't abnormal. My parents can drive, work, and live a normal life.
"They're just different in how they communicate."
His message to the hearing world is simple: learn the sign language properly, treat the deaf community with respect, and understand that their world is just as rich and vibrant as any other.
You can follow Nabil's personal TikTok account here, or his parents cendol stall here.
Watch our interview here:
