Linguistics experts compile database to compare international sign languages (fwd link)

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Linguistics experts compile database to compare international sign languages

by Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu - October 6, 2008
Connecticut

Two researchers in the Department of Linguistics are engaged in a comparative
study of sign languages from around the world.

With support from a two-year, $200,000 grant from the National Science
Foundation, Professor Harry van der Hulst and Rachel Channon, a research
specialist, have compiled a database that contains information on nearly 12,000
signs from six different sign languages.

The initial goal of the project, says van der Hulst, is to understand through
quantitative analysis how sign languages differ in terms of the visual images
they use. The next stage will be to draw theoretical conclusions from those
differences.

The information recorded includes hand shape, movement, location of the
movement, and other characteristics for each sign. The database, known as
SignTyp, uses Excel software and will be posted to the Web as a resource
available to any researcher interested in sign language.

Access full article below:
http://www.advance.uconn.edu/2008/081006/08100609.htm