Linguistics as structure in computer animation
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Rosalee Wolfe
Abstract
Computer-generated three-dimensional animation holds great promise for synthesizing utterances in American Sign Language (ASL) that are not only grammatical, but well-tolerated by members of the Deaf community. Unfortunately, animation poses several challenges stemming from the necessity of grappling with massive amounts of data. However, the linguistics of ASL may aid in surmounting the challenge by providing structure and rules for organizing animation data. An exploration of the linguistic and extralinguistic behavior of the brows from an animator’s viewpoint yields a new approach for synthesizing nonmanuals that differs from the conventional animation of anatomy and instead offers a different approach for animating the effects of interacting levels of linguistic function. Results of formal testing with Deaf users have indicated that this is a promising approach.
Abstract
Computer-generated three-dimensional animation holds great promise for synthesizing utterances in American Sign Language (ASL) that are not only grammatical, but well-tolerated by members of the Deaf community. Unfortunately, animation poses several challenges stemming from the necessity of grappling with massive amounts of data. However, the linguistics of ASL may aid in surmounting the challenge by providing structure and rules for organizing animation data. An exploration of the linguistic and extralinguistic behavior of the brows from an animator’s viewpoint yields a new approach for synthesizing nonmanuals that differs from the conventional animation of anatomy and instead offers a different approach for animating the effects of interacting levels of linguistic function. Results of formal testing with Deaf users have indicated that this is a promising approach.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Nonmanuals in sign languages 1
- Syntax and prosodic consequences in ASL 7
- Negation in Turkish Sign Language 47
- Eye gaze and verb agreement in German Sign Language 73
- Mouth gestures in British Sign Language 91
- Nonmanual markings for topic constructions in Hong Kong Sign Language 111
- Nonmanuals, semantic operators, domain marking, and the solution to two outstanding puzzles in ASL 143
- Linguistics as structure in computer animation 175
- Index 195
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Nonmanuals in sign languages 1
- Syntax and prosodic consequences in ASL 7
- Negation in Turkish Sign Language 47
- Eye gaze and verb agreement in German Sign Language 73
- Mouth gestures in British Sign Language 91
- Nonmanual markings for topic constructions in Hong Kong Sign Language 111
- Nonmanuals, semantic operators, domain marking, and the solution to two outstanding puzzles in ASL 143
- Linguistics as structure in computer animation 175
- Index 195
