BSL Corpus Project

Annotating the BSL Corpus Project video data for studies of sociolinguistic variation and change has begun: we have started to move film clips into ELAN files so that we can begin to analyse the data. Here is a screen shot of an ELAN file showing a conversation between two Scottish BSL users. We have begun analysis of a phonological feature in this data, using special codes to record the features we are interested in (we’re keeping the details confidential for now, until all data collection is complete - we don’t want information about our research to influence the signing used by participants we will film in the future). As far as we know, we’re the first research team to use ELAN for studies of sociolinguistic variation in sign language phonology in this way (the Sociolinguistic Variation in New Zealand Sign Language Project pioneered the use of ELAN for variation studies of NZSL grammar and the use of fingerspelling). For more information about ELAN, visit the website for the software, where it can be downloaded for free.

Ramas Rentelis has started a new part-time position with the BSL Corpus Project as a research assistant. Ramas will be responsible for capturing the video data to computer, editing and annotating the data for the sociolinguistic variation and change projects. Welcome Ramas - we’re looking forward to working with you! You can read about more about Ramas on the team page.

As of December, 2008, we have now filmed 80 Deaf participants: 30 in Birmingham, 20 in Manchester, 14 in London and 16 in Glasgow. We will be filming again in Glasgow this month, and in Bristol in January. As Jacqueline Parker’s baby is due very soon (thanks for all your hard work as a Deaf community fieldworker on the project, Jackie!), we have taken a break from filming in Manchester for now, but we will be back in mid 2009 to film an additional 10 people there. We look forward to working with Jackie again next year.

Research assistant: video data capture, editing and annotation

Ramas is Deaf from a Deaf family, and was Research Assistant on the BSL Corpus Project from November 2008 until June 2011. He received his BA in Primary Education in 2004 from Vilnius Pedagogical University in Lithuania. During his studies, he was primarily interested in developmental issues related to d/Deaf children’s learning and also to their Deaf identity. He was the first Deaf Lithuanian Sign Language tutor for trainee interpreters in Vilnius College. In 2010, he obtained a PGDipl in Interpreting with the Deaf Community from Durham University. Currently, he is working towards his MSc in Deafhood Studies at Bristol University.

Steady progress has been made since the summer.  We have carried out filming sessions in Birmingham, London and Manchester.  So far 60 people have been filmed.  The good news is that Birmingham area has now been completed, and we continue to film in London and Manchester.  We would like to thank our fieldworkers in these areas for their hard work.  This month, we will start filming in Glasgow and Bristol.  Watch this space!

Greater Glasgow fieldworker

Avril is a native BSL user from a Deaf family in Glasgow. She has a vast amount of knowledge about the Deaf community and its culture, as well as several years of experience working with Deaf organisations. Avril is the Director of BSL for the British Deaf Association, with a remit to develop and deliver BSL curricula training to BSL teachers and assessors throughout the UK for the BSL Academy. In 2003, Avril helped to deliver a Certificate in the Linguistics of BSL course in Wales, working as a trainee under Frances Elton from DCAL. She also works on a regular basis as a BSL/English interpreter for Scottish Television news, and has undertaken a secondment at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston on the BSL:QED project.

Bristol fieldworker

Carolyn is a native BSL user, and comes from sixth generations of Deaf families. She grew up in the British Deaf community and has extensive knowledge about Deaf culture and sign language. Carolyn is no stranger to TV screens having worked as a presenter for BBC’s ‘See Hear’, ITV West, and in BSLBT’s ‘Under The Lamp’. She also had a small role in the BBC drama ‘Switch’ as Angela. Nowadays, Carolyn works with Remark in Birmingham as the Regional Co-ordinator for their interpreting and training division.

BSL Corpus Project director, Adam Schembri, made it onto the cover of the October issue of the British Deaf News magazine, produced by the British Deaf Association. This photo was taken during his presentation at the British Deaf Association conference in Cardiff in August.

We’ve fallen a little behind in sharing news with you all, but we are delighted to announce that Avril Hepner  accepted the position of Glasgow Deaf community fieldworker for the project back in August and has been working with us since then. We plan to have our first filming sessions in Glasgow with Avril in November - a belated welcome to the team, Avril!

Adam Schembri, Mark Nelson and Sally Reynolds conducted the first pilot data collection session on July 11 here at DCAL in London. We were very grateful for assistance from Tanya Denmark and Jordan Fenlon, two BSL native signers and PhD students at University College London who agreed to act as participants for the pilot filming session. We’re now ready to begin filming sessions in London, Manchester and Birmingham.