ASL Dictionary

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elitheeli

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Hey, this is my first post. I'm hearing and I'm learning ASL in college. I come from a city with a very high density of Deaf people.

I've noticed that there are just a few American Sign Language dictionaries online. Notably, ASLPro, LifePrint, and something from Michigan State University.

Have there been attempts to create an updated Web2.0 ASL video dictionary? All the aforementioned sites are quite primitive and difficult to use. They are rarely updated and don't have many features.

If I were to try to assemble a team to create a new site, do you think there would be significant interest? I'm a computer science major and have significant web development experience. I think that it'd require another two or three programmers and then a score of people with video cameras and a lot of free time to record thousands of words.

Thoughts?
 
MySignLink

Check out the tools at CATS (CATS). We have a dictionary called MySignBookLink that is easy to use. If you are interested, we are trying to continue development. There are approximately 27,000 words. Technically it is just html based, nothing fancy needed.
Also, our lab at GT is looking for cs majors interested in sign. Our group also focuses on cell phones. If you are looking for a masters or doctorate there may be a fit.
Harley Hamilton hhamilton@gatech.edu
 
Harley, I send you an email.

I'd still appreciate others' responses. The more feedback I get, the better.
 
I would LOVE to see another sign language dictionary. I have a website for sign language videos but do not have the funds to create a dictionary at this time....I have applied for a grant but won't know until April if I got it. If I do I will let you know so we can work towards this. I think there is a great need to explain signs or show the different signs and tell why there are different signs instead of just looking up a word and seeing a sign. My students are really bad at using a sign the wrong way because of this.

I'll stay in touch and keep checking back here too to see if there is anything else that is posted.

Thanks,
Shasta
 
i want to research find more amereican sign language.
 
shastagrimes said:
I would LOVE to see another sign language dictionary. I have a website for sign language videos but do not have the funds to create a dictionary at this time....
Click to expand...

Have you investigated the cost of creating a new dictionary? If I had to estimate, I'd guess about $3000 initially, plus a few hundred dollars a month for enough bandwidth to make it snappy, plus whatever it takes to record enough signs.

Do you know approximately how many signs there are? I know that there are around one million words in English, including scientific terms. I assume there are fewer than ten thousand signs, though.

Thanks,
Eli
 
There has been many attempts to create an ASL dictionary, but most is in process of completeing or some didn't complete cause 10k of signs was too much and they only had 500 mb or something.


Are you saying that you'd like to create a book? OR a site?

I'm a bit confused. If it's site, I could give you some ideas if I heard some from you. Anyways, good luck.


Michigan, eh? Didn't know they had high population of deaf people.
 
imdeafsowhat said:
There has been many attempts to create an ASL dictionary, but most is in process of completeing or some didn't complete cause 10k of signs was too much and they only had 500 mb or something.


Are you saying that you'd like to create a book? OR a site?

I'm a bit confused. If it's site, I could give you some ideas if I heard some from you. Anyways, good luck.
Click to expand...

It's a site. I'm a web developer. I'm trying to get a cost estimate so that I can put together a business plan and seek funding.
 
elitheeli said:
It's a site. I'm a web developer. I'm trying to get a cost estimate so that I can put together a business plan and seek funding.
Click to expand...

I see. I could help you out, just drop me a PM whenever.

Well, I think you can do it on your own.

It's not that pricey if you can think of alteratives. That'd what I'd do. :)

Good Luck.
 
I'd be more than happy to let whoever wanted to work on this to use my site to host the video to save on paying for it. I'm already paying almost $200 a month for a dedicated server and I'm not sure how much I hold but it better be a lot for that much! I don't know much about how it's set up but if you'll PM me I can give you the info.

Also, there are sign langauge dictionaries out there but I think it would be great to explain when a certain sign should be used if there are several meanings for it. That is the biggest issue with having my students use online dictionaries....they find a word and sign it in the wrong context.

Hope we can make the work.
 
shastagrimes said:
I'd be more than happy to let whoever wanted to work on this to use my site to host the video to save on paying for it. I'm already paying almost $200 a month for a dedicated server and I'm not sure how much I hold but it better be a lot for that much! I don't know much about how it's set up but if you'll PM me I can give you the info.
Click to expand...

The problem is that to stream video, you really need to use a Content Distribution Network. No matter how much you pay for your servers, it'll always be faster, more reliable, and cheaper to use CDNs.

Also, the funding for the hosting is the smallest concern at this point. The initial costs are extremely high.
 
Hi if you do this project, could you please put it in a two-way format? I love this book: The American Sign Language Handshape Dictionary
because when I see a sign I don't recognize, I can look in that dictionary for the handshape and find the meaning of the sign. It also has an English index if you know the English word and want to find the sign. That dictionary has been the most helpful tool for me learning ASL, but it needs more content. Many times I see a sign and look for it in that dictionary but it's not in there. I'd like to see a living community dictionary that many people can continuously contribute content...because obviously the language changes over time and from region to region.
 
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