Researching linguistic features of text genres in a DGS corpus:

The case of finger loci

Martje Hansen – Jens HessmannUniversity of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal (Germany)

Workshop ‘Sign Language Corpora: Linguistic Issues’

London 24–25 July, 2009

The Project

• Objectives: – Digital library of DGS texts– Classification of text genres

• Team

• Timetable

• Funding

Case Study: Overview

1. Starting point and hypotheses2. Presentation of our data3. Provisional classification of the data 4. Finger loci: forms and functions5. Distribution of finger loci in DGS-texts5a. Distribution of semantic features5b. Distribution of forms6. Pronominal and textual functions7. ‚Incomplete‘ use8. Remarks and Conclusions

Finger loci : 1. Starting point and hypotheses

Starting point:

DGS-texts on the web-site of the German Ministry for Labour and Social Policies

Translated into DGS and performed by German Deaf people (Gebärdenwerk)

Characteristics:

High information density and complex text structure– Extensive use of finger loci– Articulation of signs at finger loci (“list buoys”, cf.

Liddell 2003)– Reference-tracking by finger loci across long

stretches of texts– Highly complex interplay of spatial and finger loci.

Finger loci : 1. Starting point and hypotheses

Hypotheses:

1. Informative, planned texts show more use of finger loci than private, unplanned texts.

2. The use of finger loci in planned text is extended to textual functions.

2. Finger loci : Presentation of the data

• Data:

Corpus fragment of approximately 7 h 30

• Tentative classification according to • theme• situation • communicative function

3. Provisional classification of the data

Three groups– Information programmes (tv format ‘Vibelle’: Vib)

2 h 15– Narrative interviews (GEHÖRLOS SO! : GLSO)

2 h 33– Private conversations (‘Berlin Project’ : BP)

2 h 39

4. Finger loci : forms and functions

Different forms:a. Without indexing - RH: I CAN CAN CAN

LH: ONE TWO THREE

b. Partial indexing of finger loci

referential status of the particular item

c. Full indexing of finger loci on the weak hand as points of reference

d. Textual functions: Based on the referential function, additional use of finger loci to indicate text cohesion

text structure

5. Finger loci : Distribution in DGS-texts

• Vibelle: 44 (time: 2 h 15 min)

• GLSO : 28 (time: 2 h 33 min)

• Berlin Project: 17 (time: 2 h 39 min)

5a. Finger loci : Distribution of semantic features

abstract concret human

Vib 41 (1) 3

GLSO 21 4 3

BP 8 0 9

5a. Finger loci : semantic features

Abstract referents:here: Consequences of

Gobalization = cuisines, equality of women and men

- languages, how to sell, activities, unspecified items, economy, culture, questions…

5a. Finger loci : semantic features

Concrete referents: here: doing upholstering, ground floors, walls, curtains;

- light bells, heating, flat

5a. Finger loci : semantic features

Human referents: here: two men who indicated deaf children to the nazis: 1. Direktor (?) Müller, 2. Herr Gruber- relatives, children, friends, policemen, combat groups, unemployed people,

5b. Finger loci : distribution of forms

Indexing of all finger

No indexing

Mixed indexing

Vib 19 5 20

GLSO 11 11 6

BP 5 6 6

5b. Finger loci : distribution of formsIndexing of all finger loci

Referents:

1. Leisure time activities

2. Building repairs

5b. Finger loci : distribution of formsNo indexing of finger loci

Referents:

Different precious possessions

5b. Finger loci : distribution of formsMixed indexing of finger loci

Referents:

1 and 2.:

Two new languages,

3 : English

6. Finger loci : Pronominal function

Referents:

5 friends, two of them female, four without driving licence

6. Finger loci : Pronominal function and textual structuring

Presenter asks his collegue two questions: 1. consequences of globalization for work in general and 2. for single workers

7. Finger loci : ‘Incomplete’ use

Problems due to the „on-line“ processing:

1. Two-item listing is articulated using a finger locus only for the first or only for the second item

2. Listing starts with one or two finger-loci, further elaboration without finger loci

7. ‘Incomplete’ use of finger loci Listing starts with one or two finger-loci, further elaboration

without finger loci:

Presenter names the areas influenced by globalizations: 1 = economy, 2 = politics, (3) culture, (4) social issues

7. ‘Incomplete’ use of finger loci Three item-listing, using the ‚wrong‘ finger locus:

Example: Presenter names activities of Greenpeace 1. against whaling, 2. overfishing, 3. pollution by chemicals

8. Remarks and Conclusions

a. Individual preferences for finger loci in all text types

e.g. GLSO:

1st film/signer: 49 min with 2 occurrences

2nd film/signer: 68 min with 20 occurrences

3rd film/signer: 42 min with 6 occurrences

b. Specialized texts do not show an even distribution of finger loci:

long sequences (e.g. about economy and labour market) without finger loci

8. Remarks and Conclusions

c. sometimes, the use of finger loci may resemble (ordinal) numbers, but fulfills wider functions

Example: Presenter introduces second topic, concerning NGOs

8. Remarks and Conclusions

General concept: Referential structures

Next steps:

1. Determination of the relationship between finger and spatial loci in texts:

Total number of referents and relationship between spatial and finger loci for these referents

Hierarchies between referents and respective loci (internal text levels)

8. Remarks and Conclusions

Next steps:

2. Related phenomena:

Determination of referents without any locus along different text types

Distribution and referential use of classifiers in different text types

8. Remarks and Conclusions

Research objectives:

I. Understanding reference in (German) sign language(s)

II. Understanding variation in the use of referential structures in different registers and text genres.

References

• Biber, Douglas (1995). Dimensions of register variation: a cross-linguistic comparison. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Biber, Douglas/Connor, Ulla/Upton, Thomas A. (2007). Discourse on the move. Using corpus analysis to describe discourse structure. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins B.V.

• Liddell, Scott K. (2003). Grammar, Gesture, and Meaning in ASL. Cambridge: University Press.