Deaf people in South Africa are no longer a minority group and their needs regarding communication and interaction must therefore be taken into consideration. This demographic does not communicate and interact in the same way as hearing people, which means that any existing usability or accessibility guidelines do not apply. As a result, Deaf people do not have access to information in the same way that a hearing person does. Providing proper access to Information and Communications Technology services, which meet their particular needs, will help the hearing impaired to better integrate into society. The importance of demolishing the communication barrier between the hearing and the hearing impaired is very important. Many people assume that sign language is somehow based on oral language. However, this is not the case. Sign languages are natural visual-spatial languages, and form a contrast with spoken languages which are auditory-vocal based. Acknowledging this fact in 2008, the South African Sign Language Policy Implementation Conference together with several governmental bodies suggested that South African Sign Language should become recognized as the 12th official language of South Africa. Due to the fact that cell phone technology continues to evolve, it will remain a tool of communication upon which Deaf people heavily rely on. The cell phone fulfils a basic need for everyone, but especially for the Deaf demographic as they rely on the short message system to communicate. Deaf people are currently faced with a lack of appropriate mobile phone applications, which would allow them to communicate with hearing as well as deaf people. The primary objective of this research was therefore to make mobile technology equally accessible meaning usable to members of the Deaf demographic. The focus of the research was to investigate the communication barrier and a range of variables that can influence the deaf user’s experience. Topics such as user interface design, usability and interaction were investigated. The outcome of this research was to propose a set of guidelines that, when applied to the design of a website or to phone application accessibility, would ensure communication and interaction from a deaf user. The proposed set of guidelines was then applied to the design of the high fidelity prototype of a mobile phone application. The specific application is a messaging phone application that allows deaf users to communicate with other deaf and hearing users via short message system. A mobile phone application that allows Deaf people to send and receive messages based on the sign language alphabet. The application was named Signchat. Purpose of this was to visibly display how the guidelines were implemented in Signchat. While Signchat’s main purpose is to accommodate the needs of Deaf people, it is also a learning tool and an application that bridges the gap by allowing deaf and hearing users to communicate.

Sin Yee Prudence, Lau. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction Page / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Causativity and causative constructions --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- A Typology of causative alternations --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research focus: Causative alternation in Hong Kong Sign Language --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Thesis Outline --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- A brief note on the transcription convention --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Linguistic research on Hong Kong Sign Language --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Argument Structure approach to causative alternation / Chapter 2.0 --- Introduction --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- Various approaches to causative alternations --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- The Unaccusativity Hypothesis and Burzio´ةs Generalizations --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Various approaches to causative alternations --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- The concept of argument structure --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- A semantic approach --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- A syntactic approach --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3 --- The semantics of causative alternation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Causative alternation in English --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Causative alternation in Chinese --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4 --- Causative alternation in signed languages --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Classifiers in signed languages --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Causative alternation in American Sign Language (ASL) --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Causative alternation in Hong Kong Sign Language / Chapter 3.0 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1 --- Experiment: picture-description task --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Results: --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Volitional agents as external arguments --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Lexical causative variants with unaccusative counterparts --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Unaccusative variants without lexical causative counterparts --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.1.3 --- Lexical causative variants without unaccusative counterparts --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Natural forces and instruments as external arguments --- p.92 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Unaccusative variants without lexical causative counterparts --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3 --- More evidence on lexical causative constructions --- p.99 / Chapter 3.4 --- Interim discussion --- p.109 / Chapter 3.5 --- Chapter summary --- p.118 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- The syntax of causative alternation in HKSL / Chapter 4.0 --- Introduction --- p.119 / Chapter 4.1 --- The X-bar theory --- p.120 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- The checking theory --- p.125 / Chapter 4.2 --- The derivation pattern of causative/unaccusative pairs in HKSL --- p.128 / Chapter 4.3 --- The abstract causative morpheme and feature checking --- p.135 / Chapter 4.4 --- Verbal classifiers as a functional projection --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Functional categories and lexical categories --- p.141 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- The functional projection - verbal classifier phrase (VCLP) --- p.148 / Chapter 4.5 --- An alternative approach --- p.157 / Chapter 4.6 --- Chapter Summary --- p.163 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Suggestion for future research --- p.164 / Appendix I: Notational conventions / Appendix II: Verb classes for the experiment / Appendix III: Picture stimuli for the experiment / Appendix IV: Figures / References

Lee Wai-Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [46-51] (3rd gp.)). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Tables and Figures --- p.vii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.0 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 . --- Aspect: a definition --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Analyses of verb classes --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Interim summary of analysis of verb classes --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research questions --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4 --- Thesis outline --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5 --- Notation system --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6 --- Previous researches of Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL) --- p.20 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- The Study of Aspect --- p.22 / Chapter 2.0 --- Introduction --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1 --- Two-component Theory --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Viewpoint Aspect --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Perfective Viewpoint --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Imperfective Viewpoint --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- Neutral Viewpoint --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Situation Aspect --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Temporal features of situation types --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Situation Types --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.1 --- Activity --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.2 --- Accomplishments --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.3 --- Achievements --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.4 --- Semelfactives --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.5 --- States --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.6 --- Summary of the temporal features of the five situation types --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Aspect in signed languages --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Viewpoint Aspect in signed languages --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Aspectual inflections of viewpoint in signed languages --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Aspect Markers in signed languages --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Situation Aspect in signed languages --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3 --- Predictions on the movement features of verb types in HKSL --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Situations Aspect in HKSL --- p.66 / Chapter 3.0 --- Introduction --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1 --- Background of informants --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experiment 1: Comic strips and pictures description task --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3 --- Differentiating verb types in HKSL --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Imperative test --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Single movement test --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Durative adverbial test --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Telicity confirmation test --- p.72 / Chapter 3.4 --- Classification of situation types in HKSL --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- States --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Generalization and statistics of movement features in States --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Psychological verbs --- p.75 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- Verbs of postures and locations --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.1.4 --- Mental verbs and verb of possession/existence --- p.83 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Activities --- p.84 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Generalization and statistics of movement features in Activities --- p.84 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Activities with [TM] or [Repeat] --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- Activities with single movements --- p.89 / Chapter 3.4.2.4 --- Activities without the feature [Path] --- p.91 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Semelfactives --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.3.1 --- Generalization and statistics of movement features in Semelfactives --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.3.2 --- Movement features of Semelfactives --- p.94 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Achievements --- p.98 / Chapter 3.4.4.1 --- Generalization and statistics of movement features in Achievements --- p.98 / Chapter 3.4.4.2 --- Achievements with the feature [Path] --- p.99 / Chapter 3.4.4.3 --- Achievements without the feature [Path] --- p.103 / Chapter 3.4.4.4 --- Multiple-events Activities consisting of Achievements as sub-events --- p.105 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Accomplishments --- p.108 / Chapter 3.4.5.1 --- Generalization and statistics of movement features in Accomplishments --- p.108 / Chapter 3.4.5.2 --- Type (I) Accomplishments´ؤcomposite of an Activity verb and an outcome --- p.109 / Chapter 3.4.5.2.1 --- Activity and a quantifying particle (QP) --- p.110 / Chapter 3.4.5.2.2 --- Verb series in type (I) Accomplishments --- p.114 / Chapter 3.4.5.2.2.1 --- Serial Verb Construction --- p.114 / Chapter 3.4.5.2.2.2 --- Verbal Compound --- p.117 / Chapter 3.4.5.3 --- Type (II) Accomplishments´ؤsingle Accomplishment verbs --- p.122 / Chapter 3.5 --- Generalizations on the representation of situation types in HKSL --- p.126 / Chapter 3.6 --- Chapter summary --- p.131 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Aspectual Modification --- p.133 / Chapter 4.0 --- Introduction --- p.133 / Chapter 4.1 --- Viewpoint Aspect in HKSL´ؤan overview --- p.133 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experiment 2: Natural conversation --- p.135 / Chapter 4.3. --- The syntactic distributions and grammatical functions of FINISH in HKSL --- p.136 / Chapter 4.4 --- Interaction between Situation Aspect and Viewpoint Aspect in HKSL --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- States --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Activities --- p.147 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Semelfactives --- p.149 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Achievements --- p.150 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Accomplishments --- p.152 / Chapter 4.5 --- Meaning of the perfective marker FINSIH in HKSL --- p.157 / Chapter 4.6 --- Chapter summary --- p.165 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Suggestions for Future Research --- p.166 / Appendix 1 Tables and Figures / Appendix 2 Example of pictures and comic strips for experiment1 / Appendix 3 Transcription of natural conversation of Experiment2 / Appendix 4 Illustrations / Bibliography

Yim-Binh, Sze. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 225-235). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement / Abstract / Table of Contents / List of Tables / Chapter Chapter 1 --- : Introduction Page / Chapter (1.1) --- Research questions --- p.1 / Chapter (1.1.1) --- Space and spoken languages --- p.1 / Chapter (1.1.2) --- Space and sign languages --- p.4 / Chapter (1.1.3) --- Nominals in Hong Kong Sign Language --- p.8 / Chapter (1.1.4) --- Research focus: interaction of space and nominals --- p.11 / Chapter (1.2) --- Thesis outline --- p.12 / Chapter (1.3) --- A brief note on the transcription convention --- p.13 / Chapter (1.4) --- Sociolinguistic background of Hong Kong Sign Language --- p.15 / Chapter (1.5) --- Documentation of Hong Kong Sign Language and Chinese Sign Language --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Space and Grammatical Relations / Chapter (2.0) --- Introduction --- p.21 / Chapter (2.1) --- On the grammatical relations 'subject' and 'object' --- p.21 / Chapter (2.2) --- Literature review --- p.28 / Chapter (2.2.1) --- Grammatical relations in American Sign Language (ASL) --- p.28 / Chapter (2.2.2) --- Grammatical relations in Chinese Sign Language (CSL) --- p.35 / Chapter (2.3) --- Experiment 1: Picture description and selection task --- p.36 / Chapter (2.4) --- Results: --- p.39 / Chapter (2.4.1) --- Non-reversible sentences --- p.39 / Chapter (2.4.2) --- Reversible sentences --- p.52 / Chapter (2.4.2.1) --- Linear representation: S V O --- p.52 / Chapter (2.4.2.2) --- "Spatial representation: the use of loci, inflecting verbs and classifiers" --- p.54 / Chapter (2.4.2.3) --- Reversible and non-reversible data: a further discussion --- p.64 / Chapter (2.4.3) --- An extension to dative constructions --- p.71 / Chapter (2.5) --- Chapter summary --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Space and NP Referential Properties / Chapter (3.0) --- Introduction --- p.78 / Chapter (3.1) --- On the various referential properties --- p.78 / Chapter (3.2) --- Realization of referential properties in spoken and sign languages --- p.79 / Chapter (3.3) --- Specific NPs: indefinites and definites --- p.89 / Chapter (3.3.1) --- Experiment 2: picture story description and picture reordering --- p.89 / Chapter (3.3.2) --- NPs in subject positions --- p.90 / Chapter (3.3.2.1) --- Specific indefinites --- p.91 / Chapter (3.3.2.2) --- Specific definites --- p.96 / Chapter (3.3.3) --- NPs in object positions: specific indefinites and definites --- p.106 / Chapter (3.4) --- Non-specific indefinites and generics --- p.118 / Chapter (3.5) --- Chapter summary --- p.121 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Space and Referential Loci --- p.123 / Chapter (4.0) --- Introduction --- p.123 / Chapter (4.1) --- Literature review --- p.1 24 / Chapter (4.1.1) --- Frame of reference in sign languages --- p.1 24 / Chapter (4.1.2) --- Nature of space and loci --- p.129 / Chapter (4.1.3) --- Shift of loci/ frame of reference --- p.133 / Chapter (4.2) --- Observation of Hong Kong Sign Language --- p.138 / Chapter (4.2.1) --- Localization of referents in narrative discourse --- p.138 / Chapter (4.2.2) --- Shift of loci / frame of reference in HKSL --- p.150 / Chapter (4.2.2.1) --- Role-play/ locus shift in HKSL --- p.150 / Chapter (4.2.2.2) --- Three more types of locus shift --- p.153 / Chapter (a) --- Loci contrast exaggeration --- p.153 / Chapter (b) --- Shifted focalization --- p.157 / Chapter (c) --- Token-surrogate alternation --- p.162 / Chapter (4.3) --- Chapter summary --- p.170 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Suggestions for Future Research --- p.171 / Appendix 1: Notation conventions --- p.176 / Appendix 2: Picture stimuli for experiment1 --- p.179 / "Appendix 3: Topic, Comment and Topicalization in HKSL" --- p.181 / Appendix 4: Picture stimuli for experiment2 --- p.190 / Appendix 5: Illustrations --- p.203 / References --- p.225

The SRA-10 is a tactile instrument which provides hearing impaired subjects with acoustic transforms that can be easily discriminated on the skin. Whether or not the SRA-10 is an effective means of training speech-language skills in profoundly hearing impaired subjects was the focus of this investigation. Two profoundly hearing impaired subjects were trained on phonetic reception/production tasks and on discrimination of multisyllabic words. Each subject served as his own control, wearing the SRA-10 for 14, 30 minute sessions, and a Bioacoustics 70-B auditory training unit for the same period of time. Results indicated a greater correct performance gain function with the SRA-10 than with the 70-B, suggesting that speech perception/production training using the SRA-10 or similar device would be superior to training using acoustic amplification.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (Sc.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 46-48. / by Michael Alan Picheny. / Sc.D.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 185-192. / by Marcia Ann Bush. / Ph.D.

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