Abstract
We describe a corpus-based study of one type of non-manual in signed languages (SLs) — mouth actions. Our ultimate aim is to examine the distribution and characteristics of mouth actions in Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to gauge the degree of language-specific conventionalization of these forms. We divide mouth gestures into categories broadly based on Crasborn et al. (2008), but modified to accommodate our experiences with the Auslan data. All signs and all mouth actions are examined and the state of the mouth in each sign is assigned to one of three broad categories: (i) mouthings, (ii) mouth gestures, and (iii) no mouth action. Mouth actions that invariably occur while communicating in SLs have posed a number of questions for linguists: which are ‘merely borrowings’ from the relevant ambient spoken language (SpL)? which are gestural and shared with all of the members of the wider community
in which signers find themselves? and which are conventionalized aspects of the grammar of some or all SLs? We believe these schema captures all the relevant information about mouth forms and their use and meaning in context to enable us to describe their function and degree of conventionality.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Beyond the Manual Channel |
Subtitle of host publication | proceedings of the 6th Workshop on the Representation and Processing of Sign Languages |
Editors | Onno Crasborn, Eleni Efthimiou, Evita Fotinea, Thomas Hanke, Julie Hochgesang, Jette Kristoffersen, Johanna Mesch |
Place of Publication | Paris, France |
Publisher | European Language Resources Association |
Pages | 81-88 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISBN (Print) | 9782951740884 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Event | International Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (9th : 2014) - Reykjavik, Iceland Duration: 26 May 2014 → 31 May 2014 |
Conference
Conference | International Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (9th : 2014) |
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City | Reykjavik, Iceland |
Period | 26/05/14 → 31/05/14 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2014. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- sign language
- corpus
- ELAN
- non-manuals
- Auslan
- Australian Sign Language