Completed Projects

The Classifier System of Hong Kong Sign Language

Date: 01/01/1999 - 01/01/2000

General summary

This research project looked into the complex grammatical properties of the classifier system in Hong Kong Sign Language.
Aims

  • To identify a set of classifier and handshapes adopted in HKSL
  • To explore how the system operates as a grammatical category

Activities

  • Working with native Deaf signers to identify signs and take pictures of them for analysis
  • Collecting data on Asian sign languages through collaborative research between deaf and hearing researchers

Significance

  • First project in Hong Kong that attempts to explore Hong Kong Sign Language’s classifier system

Project team

Professor Gladys Tang
Ms Felix Sze
Ms Scholastica Lam
Mr Kenny Chu
Ms Brenda Yu
Output

  • Tang, G. (2000, April). Classifiers of Hong Kong Sign Language: Conflation and Lexicalization. Paper presented at the Conference on Classifier Constructions in Sign Language, The Salk Institute of Biological Studies, University of California, San Diego, USA.
  • Tang, G. (2001). Classifiers of Hong Kong Sign Language: A Semantic Universals Perspective. In Zhang, Zhengsheng (Ed.) Proceedings of the Twelfth North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics (pp. 187-207), San Diego University, San Diego, USA.
  • Tang, G. (2003). Verbs of motion and location in Hong Kong Sign Language: Conflation and Lexicalization in Sign Language. In Emmory, Karen (Ed.) Perspectives on Classifier Constructions in Sign Languages (pp. 143-165), Mahwah, NJ, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.




Fundraising for Sign Bilingualism and Co-enrolment in Deaf Education Programme