Target Group: deaf researchers or those interested in producing
sign language dictionaries
Prerequisites: participation in course A1 or comparable
previous knowledge
Type of course: seminar
Level: intermediate
Language of instruction: German Sign Language
Length: 2 weeks, 7 hours of instruction daily
Total hours: 70
Proportion of independent work: appx. 50'%
HamNoSys is an internationally applicable alphabetic notation system for sign languages which represents the form-related aspects of the signs. It includes more than 180 symbols for hand forms, hand positions, locations and movements. HamNoSys can be handwritten or typed with the computer. Because of the ability to describe signs in detail using HamNoSys, it is well suited for use in the transcription of sign language scenes (see course A5) and as a basis for data base applications (e.g. dictionaries).
In this seminar, the participants will learn the entire inventory of symbols in HamNoSys and the various possibilities of combining them. A step by step introduction to the different categories will be underscored with exercises:
In practical exercises, the participants will learn the difference between the notation of individual words (for example for collections of signs and for dictionaries, see course A6) and of sign language sentences (see Transcription, course).
Finally, the participants will be trained in using computer-supported aids for work with HamNoSys.
The goal of this course is to enable the participants to adjust the HamNoSys notation to meet different demands, and thus to use it as a tool in the production of dictionaries or in the collection of data.
Instructors' qualifications:
The seminar will be led by deaf instructors who were participated in creating the notation system or who have worked with the system for some time.