Sign Language SurveySign Language SurveyAmericas AreaAmericas Area

Jason & Elizabeth Jason & Elizabeth ParksParks

AEPLS 2008AEPLS 2008

In a NutshellIn a Nutshell In 2007, we used questionnaires, In 2007, we used questionnaires,

participant observation, wordlist participant observation, wordlist comparisons, and RTTs in Guatemala comparisons, and RTTs in Guatemala and Peruand Peru

We are trying to adapt and/or refine We are trying to adapt and/or refine existing survey methodologies to work existing survey methodologies to work effectively with signed languageseffectively with signed languages

E.g. How do we compare wordlists?E.g. How do we compare wordlists?

A Signed Word: CATA Signed Word: CAT

Coding HandshapesCoding Handshapes

Gs.>F.Gs.>F.

Gs F

Gs.SFFace.>F.SN.Gs.SFFace.>F.SN.

Coding LocationCoding Location

Coding MovementCoding Movement Arc: Arc: ArcArc Brush:Brush: Brush Brush Circle:Circle: Circle Circle Direction: Direction: DirectDirect Flick:Flick: Flick Flick Hit:Hit: Hit Hit Hold: Hold: HoldHold Pull:Pull: Pull Pull Push:Push: Push Push

Rub:Rub: Rub Rub Shake (no twisting):Shake (no twisting):

ShakeShake Squeeze:Squeeze: Squee Squee Tap:Tap: Tap Tap Trill (fingers only):Trill (fingers only): Trill Trill Twist (in wrist or Twist (in wrist or

elbow):elbow): Twist Twist Weave:Weave: Weave Weave

Gs.SFFace.Pull.>F.SN.Squee.Gs.SFFace.Pull.>F.SN.Squee.

Current ChallengesCurrent Challenges

How best to adapt survey methodology for How best to adapt survey methodology for sign languages sign languages How best to code signsHow best to code signs How to adapt RTTs How to adapt RTTs

More personnel – only 5 in SIL currently More personnel – only 5 in SIL currently assigned to the hundreds of sign assigned to the hundreds of sign languages believed to existlanguages believed to exist

Wisdom as we help train new surveyors Wisdom as we help train new surveyors with our very limited experiencewith our very limited experience