SignType: A cross-linguistic database of signs

数以百计的手语在聋人有机会形成文化社区的地方独立出现。 这些手语有多相似，它们在哪些方面有区别？这些都是语言学家试图回答的问题。该项目旨在开发一种工具，以比较手语的一个方面，即标志的视觉形状。在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，在一个由手语研究人员和数据库专家组成的国际小组的帮助下，哈里·货车·德胡尔斯特和雷切尔·德里昂博士将建立一个关于手语视觉形状的数据库--SignType。该数据库将成为语言研究界和聋人界的网上资源。SignType将包括一些手语的手语目录的照片和录像带，但该数据库最重要的部分将是使用通用编码系统的每个手语的分析数据结构。编码系统将包括手的形状、运动和位置、面部表情和许多其他特征的代码。SignType将联合收割机结合其他手语研究人员通过将他们各自的编码系统翻译成 通用编码系统SignType将允许研究人员回答这样的问题：有多少不同的手形或位置？有优惠吗？一旦开发出来，SignType还可以为开发通用（图形）符号系统提供基础。此外，还有许多潜在的实际应用，例如为字典或标志动画/识别软件提供材料。

Hundreds of sign languages have emerged independently everywhere that deaf people had the opportunity to form cultural communities. How similar are these sign languages and in what ways do they differ? These are questions that linguists try to answer. This project aims to develop a tool to compare one aspect of sign languages, namely the visual shape of signs. With NSF support, and the help of an international panel of sign language researchers and database experts, Drs. Harry van der Hulst and Rachel Channon will build SignType, a database of the visual shape of signs. This database will be a web-based resource for the linguistic research community and the deaf community. SignType will include photographs and videotapes of sign inventories of a number of sign languages but the most important part of this database will be an analytic data structure for each sign, using a universal coding system. The coding system will include codes for the shape, movement and location of the hands, facial expressions, and many other characteristics. SignType will combine several inventories that other sign language researchers have made by translating their separate coding systems into the universal coding system. SignType will allow researchers to answer questions like: How many different handshapes or locations are there? Are there preferences? Once developed, SignType can also provide a basis for developing a universal (graphic) notation system for signs. There are, in addition, many potential practical applications such as providing material for dictionaries or sign animation/recognition software.