wiksign, a collaborativ french sign language dictionnary

lefebvre lefebvre at irit.fr
Tue Apr 15 16:48:59 UTC 2008 

A lot of question have been asked about wiksign. I try here to give a  
few responses, for more precision it is naturally possible to contact  
its webmaster :
- By now there is no way of integrating sign writing into the wiksign  
database. But it could be integrated in the long run to allow the  
people to describe their signs with this formalism.
- Two classification are made to make the signs easier to find. The  
first one is a thematic classification with categories such as  
colors, animals ... When visualizing a sign, it is also possible to  
find other connected concepts thanks to the "see also" heading.
- The second classification that will soon be available is made  
thanks to the sign hand configurations. It will be possible to find  
out one sign by selecting one configuration or proform (The system  
will be the same as in Chinese dictionary where the HanZi are  
classified with a key which is actually a part of the sinogramma).
- Kathy H told about the problem of describing the signs in various  
languages. It will soon be the case because wiksign database will be  
extended to Quebec and Catalan sign languages. For the Catalan sign  
language, it will be possible to describe signs in spanish and  
catalan and to switch the language according to the user preference.

regards,

    François L-A


Le 12 avr. 08 à 18:00, slling-l-request at majordomo.valenciacc.edu a  
écrit :

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re: wiksign,	a collaborativ french sign language dictionnary
>       (Mark A. Mandel)
>    2. Re: wiksign,	a collaborativ french sign language dictionnary
>       (Stuart Thiessen)
>    3. RE: wiksign, a collaborativ french sign language	dictionnary
>       (Kathy H.)
>    4. Re: wiksign,	a collaborativ french sign language dictionnary
>       (Steve Slevinski)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:41:58 -0400 (EDT)
> From: "Mark A. Mandel" <mamandel at ldc.upenn.edu>
> Subject: Re: [SLLING-L] wiksign,	a collaborativ french sign language
> 	dictionnary
> To: slling-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
> Message-ID: <20080411123447.P10915 at lorax.ldc.upenn.edu>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Stuart Thiessen <thiessenstuart at aol.com> wrote:
>
> #But for the purposes of a database, how difficult is it really to
> #include notations in a database using several of the major notation
> #systems (SignWriting, HamNoSys, Stokoe, etc.)? Those who utilize the
> #notations in their research can have that opportunity without
> #necessarily requiring anyone to embrace any particular notation  
> system
> #at this time. I'm sure there is a wonderful research opportunity for
> #those who are interested in computers and database storage of sign
> #language data to work with the advocates of various notation systems
> #to come up with a "plug-in" that can make it easy for data to be
> #entered in a given notation system and append it easily to a web-base
> #database and display it upon request. That shouldn't be too hard.  
> Even
> #XML could be a way to store the relevant notation data. It adds a
> #little more work to the database, but I think it is worth the effort
> #and allows various perspectives of the sign.
>
> Having spoken in favor of notations, I feel compelled by conscience  
> to speak up
> on the work they would take. It may not be *difficult* to include  
> notations, but
> *somebody* has to transcribe each sign into each system used.  
> Somebody has to
> add the code to the database and maintain it. Each such "somebody"  
> has to either
> be paid for the work or be doing it as a project, e.g. for their  
> studies. If the
> latter, somebody else will have to maintain it after the student is  
> gone from
> the project; and somebody has to keep an eye on the student's work  
> as they do it
> to make sure it will be maintainable after they leave.
>
> -- Mark A. Mandel
>    Linguistic Data Consortium, University of Pennsylvania
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:29 -0500
> From: Stuart Thiessen <thiessenstuart at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [SLLING-L] wiksign,	a collaborativ french sign language
> 	dictionnary
> To: "A list for linguists interested in signed languages"
> 	<slling-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
> Message-ID: <7530B6FF-8956-47D5-B6FB-5B298D1932F0 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> I agree that *somebody* has to do it, enter it, and maintain it. No
> argument here. :) The main reason I mentioned the use of a "plug-in"
> of sorts is that it can provide a standard way for such data to be
> included in databases and be searchable based on the assumptions of
> those notation systems. If the plug-ins become standard and are
> maintained as a matter of course for linguistic research, then it is
> something that becomes valuable to all. It is an issue now because
> notation systems haven't exactly been embraced like the IPA has been
> for spoken language research. If advocates for the various systems are
> included in the process, then I think that advocates of a notation
> system will likely find ways to maintain and support their plug-in (if
> they don't have one already). A community supported approach will be
> more likely to succeed.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Stuart
>
> On 11 Apr 2008, at 11:41 , Mark A. Mandel wrote:
>> Stuart Thiessen <thiessenstuart at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> #But for the purposes of a database, how difficult is it really to
>> #include notations in a database using several of the major notation
>> #systems (SignWriting, HamNoSys, Stokoe, etc.)? Those who utilize the
>> #notations in their research can have that opportunity without
>> #necessarily requiring anyone to embrace any particular notation
>> system
>> #at this time. I'm sure there is a wonderful research opportunity for
>> #those who are interested in computers and database storage of sign
>> #language data to work with the advocates of various notation systems
>> #to come up with a "plug-in" that can make it easy for data to be
>> #entered in a given notation system and append it easily to a web- 
>> base
>> #database and display it upon request. That shouldn't be too hard.
>> Even
>> #XML could be a way to store the relevant notation data. It adds a
>> #little more work to the database, but I think it is worth the effort
>> #and allows various perspectives of the sign.
>>
>> Having spoken in favor of notations, I feel compelled by conscience
>> to speak up
>> on the work they would take. It may not be *difficult* to include
>> notations, but
>> *somebody* has to transcribe each sign into each system used.
>> Somebody has to
>> add the code to the database and maintain it. Each such "somebody"
>> has to either
>> be paid for the work or be doing it as a project, e.g. for their
>> studies. If the
>> latter, somebody else will have to maintain it after the student is
>> gone from
>> the project; and somebody has to keep an eye on the student's work
>> as they do it
>> to make sure it will be maintainable after they leave.
>>
>> -- Mark A. Mandel
>>   Linguistic Data Consortium, University of Pennsylvania
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> SLLING-L mailing list
>> SLLING-L at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
>> http://majordomo.valenciacc.edu/mailman/listinfo/slling-l
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:40:32 -0400
> From: "Kathy H." <kaylynnkathy at hotmail.com>
> Subject: RE: [SLLING-L] wiksign, a collaborativ french sign language
> 	dictionnary
> To: A list for linguists interested in signed languages
> 	<slling-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
> Message-ID: <BAY107-W31D363F5B3872C5B55DB5DC6EF0 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> Since we're talking about wikipedia-type of sites, we as  
> individuals, as well as us as collective researchers (including  
> students), are the ones to add information.
>
> There's no need for any person or institution to assume  
> responsibility for adding notations to all the signs.  That's what  
> we as individuals do, to our heart's content (or in those few  
> minutes between classes and meetings).  Or a student could work on  
> it as a project, or it could be a class project, to work on  
> notating a portion of the signs.
>
> Also, if there is way to be able to use a variety of notation  
> systems, then "everyone" would be happy.
>
> Verbal descriptions are still important.  For the hearing French  
> mother who wants to know how to make a sign in order to communicate  
> with her deaf child, the French description can be important.
>
> Can verbal descriptions also be included in various languages?   
> (done by us as a global community, not by the original institution)
>
> Kathy H.
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:02:49 -0400
> From: Steve Slevinski <slevin at signpuddle.net>
> Subject: Re: [SLLING-L] wiksign,	a collaborativ french sign language
> 	dictionnary
> To: A list for linguists interested in signed languages
> 	<slling-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
> Message-ID: <47FFA7C9.9020809 at signpuddle.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> No matter what the solution, this is definitely a chicken and the egg
> problem.  Time will tell what evolves.
>
> I think that notation systems and scripts are more appealing than  
> video
> and spoken language.  Considering that a book on tape is inadequate  
> for
> serious study, I believe that video is inferior to text when  
> considering
> content.
>
> While I can understand the utility of a notation system for  
> analysis of
> individual signs, I'm personally drawn to scripts that are meant to be
> written and read.  I believe SignWriting is such a script and not a
> notation system for analysis only.
>
> I hope that all the possible sign language notations and scripts are
> able to create plugins.  Multiple editors within the same script would
> be even better.
>
> Interestingly, SignWriting is a script that was originally hand  
> written,
> then developed a scheme for touch type keyboarding,  and currently  
> uses
> a method of drag and drop for writing.  All three methods are in use
> today.  SignWriting will be able to support many different styles of
> user interface.  SignWriting has a simple and effective ideology  
> behind
> searching and sorting.  Advanced sorting is possible, but advanced
> searching is still only theoretical.
>
> The ideas behind Wikisign and Signopedia are interesting and I'll  
> follow
> them.  MediaWiki is a nice platform for content distribution.  I'll be
> excited when my SignWriting plugin is ready.
>
> Regards,
> -Steve
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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