From: CROMANO%UCONNVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU (Christine Romano)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: ASL Computer Dictionary
Date: 26 Jan 93 15:34:58 GMT
Reply-To: CROMANO%UCONNVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU (Christine Romano)
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 26405

[Note from Bill McGarry: this is from the Sign Language Linguistics
 List <SLLING-L%YALEVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>]

You may remember an earlier posting announcing plans for an ASL
computer dictionary, being designed by Sherman Wilcox, and requesting
suggestions for format and content of the dictionary.  Following
are some suggestions he has received.  Thanks to all for their input.
Futher suggestions are welcome.
Christine Romano
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
The following can be added to the responses regarding the ASL dictionary:
==========================================================

|- video clips of both the sign in citation form, and being used in context.
|
|- annotated still (either drawing or photo) -- you can then print out a copy
|  of your dictionary on paper
|
|- notation in HamNoSys for compatibility to other current dictionary systems
|
|- inflections
|
|- lexical non-manual features
|
|- information on regional and age usage (good luck!! US > NZ)
|
|- other usage information, ie vulgar, SEE, etc
|
|- etymology WHERE IT CAN BE RELIABLY IDENTIFIED
|
|- other SLs that use the same or similar sign
|
|- access (via button or double-click etc) to:
|  - variants
|  - synonyms
|  - polysemes
|  - homophones
|  - antonyms
|
|- definitions of the sign, both in English and ASL
|
|- English gloss
|
|- Glosses in other languages (both spoken and signed)
|
|- Information on classifier incorporation
|
|- semantic category
|
|- subject area (eg astrophysics, rugby, rastafarian etc)

|A wonderful idea.  I hope it will be affordable???
|
|I have been thinking a lot about Sign Dictionaries lately.  I've been taking a
|new ASL class, and I frequently wish I could look up a SIGN and get an English
|translation.  As you know, most dictionaries only premit one to look up an
|English WORD.  Stokoe, et al, comes close, but the terminology is daunting.
|I have been hoping that someone might consider a compromise effort.  That is,
|a dictionary which keys on hand shape, position, and movement (like Stokoe)
|but which would also contain graphical illustrations to help jog the memory.
|If the Stokoe symbols were also included, this could be a relatively painless
|learning aid.
|
|Perhaps in a multi-media format, such a dictionary would be possible.  Given
|some small effort, animation can be achieved, allowing a real "dictionary of
|signs".
|
|I would like to be able to look up a sign in one of two ways.  Either I would
|enter an English WORD, or I could choose from 3 menus of hand shape, position,
|and movement.  A computerized dictionary could easily allow both.
|
|My situation is that of an intermediate hearing student of ASL.  As such, one
|of the things I most appreciate about my current ASL class is that we seem to
|be learning the *language* rather than just words.  The signs I most want to
|learn are idiomatic - these cannot be found in most dictionaries, as they
|translate to "phrases" in English, rather than single words.  I would love to
|be able to find these signs in a true Sign Dictionary.  Thus, what I most want
|to see is a dictionary which defines Signs with a correct multi-word gloss,
|rather than assuming that single words will somehow suffice.
|
|For example, we have recently learned a sign which I will describe as "Index
|finger (1 hand) twisting out from the nose" for which the gloss appears to be:
|IS-IT-OK-WITH-YOU-IF...?.  (This is similar to the sign glossed FOR, except for
|the body position).  I want to be able to look this sign up in a Sign
|Dictionary and find it.