Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study proposes a concept model for an electronic bilingual dictionary of sign language and Afrikaans (or English, or any other spoken language) that can be applied in practice by the De la Bat School for the Deaf in Worcester – or any school of similar organisation – to compile a bilingual dictionary in which it is not only possible to look up a sign via a written word but also to look up a sign even if the user does not necessarily know the written equivalent. This is important as it will mean that, for the first time in South Africa, a Deaf user would not have to be literate in any written language to use a dictionary in his or her own language. At the same time a hearing user would be able to look up a sign of which the meaning is unknown, for example when a sign is noticed in a conversation or an unknown context. The sign language dictionaries currently available in South Africa are little more than alphabetically arranged (or sometimes thematically arranged) lists in which the written language offers the only access to the content. As per introduction the first four chapters provide general discussions of sign language, the Deaf in South Africa, lexicography and sign language dictionaries. The discussions which follow in the remaining chapters focus on the decisions which have to be made in terms of the proposed dictionary’s content and design. These chapters contain recommendations regarding equivalent relations between sign language and Afrikaans, several outer texts which could be included in the frame structure, the characteristics of the electronic database from which the dictionary will be generated, as well as decisions that have to be made about the microstructure. In the last chapter the lexicographic model for an electronic bilingual Foundation Phase dictionary of South African Sign Language and Afrikaans is provided with complete examples. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie stel 'n konsepmodel voor vir 'n elektroniese tweetalige woordeboek van gebaretaal en Afrikaans (of Engels, of enige ander gesproke taal) wat deur die De la Bat Skool vir Dowes in Worcester – of enige ander skool of soortgelyke instansie – in die praktyk aangewend sou kon word om 'n tweetalige woordeboek saam te stel waarin dit nie slegs moontlik is om 'n gebaar via 'n geskrewe woord op te soek nie, maar ook om 'n gebaar op te soek sonder dat die gebruiker noodwendig die geskrewe ekwivalent ken. Dit is belangrik aangesien dit die eerste keer in Suid- Afrika sal beteken dat 'n Dowe gebruiker nie in enige geskrewe taal geletterd hoef te wees om 'n woordeboek in sy of haar eie taal te gebruik nie. Terselfdertyd sal 'n horende gebruiker wat gebaretaal leer in staat wees om 'n gebaar op te soek waarvan die betekenis onbekend is, soos wanneer 'n gebaar in 'n gesprek of onbekende konteks opgemerk word. Die gebaretaalwoordeboeke wat op die oomblik in Suid-Afrika bestaan, is weinig meer as alfabetiese (of soms tematiese) lyste waarin die geskrewe taal die enigste toegang tot die inhoud bied. Ter inleiding word algemene besprekings van gebaretaal, Dowes in Suid-Afrika, leksikografie en gebaretaalwoordeboeke in die eerste vier hoofstukke verskaf. Die besprekings wat in die hoofstukke daarop volg, fokus in meer besonderhede op die besluite wat t.o.v. die voorgestelde woordeboek se inhoud en ontwerp gemaak moet word. Dié hoofstukke bevat aanbevelings rakende ekwivalentverhoudings tussen gebaretaal en Afrikaans, verskeie buitetekste wat in die raamstruktuur gebruik sou kon word, die eienskappe van die elektroniese databasis waaruit die woordeboek gegenereer word asook besluite wat oor die mikrostruktuur geneem moet word. In die laaste hoofstuk word die leksikografiese model vir 'n elektroniese tweetalige grondslagfasewoordeboek van Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal en Afrikaans met volledige voorbeelde uiteengesit. / Nasionale Navorsingstigting / Harry Crosleystigting

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nonverbal communication training on the acquisition of expressive and receptive sign language skills. Thirteen skills were included. Twenty-eight participants enrolled in the Beginning Interpreter Training Program (BITP) held at the University of Arizona were selected as subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group received ten hours of nonverbal communication training in the categories of kinesics, eye movement, facial expression, proxemics, chronemics, haptics, and artifacts, concurrently with their participation in the BITP. A rating instrument was devised and administered that measured the subject's performance on thirteen expressive and receptive sign language skills. A comparison of pretest and posttest performances was made utilizing the analysis of covariance. The results of the statistical analysis indicated that the experimental group improved significantly on the skills of receptive clarity and receptive fluency. No statistically significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group on the other eleven skills although the experimental group mean score values were consistently higher than the control group mean score values. The importance of the results for the two groups of subjects involved in this study and the field of interpreting is that nonverbal communication training appears to enhance the receptive clarity and fluency abilities of sign language interpreters. This study should serve as an impetus and a reference point for others wishing to investigate the inclusion of nonverbal communication training in sign language interpreter training programs.

Sign language is an effective form of alternative communication for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities. Only a few studies have systematically measured the effects of sign language on the vocal responses of its users. This study employed a multiple baseline design to evaluate the effects of sign language on the vocal responses of a four-year-old boy with autism. Results indicate that a reinforcement contingency placed only on sign responses is inadequate for maintaining vocal responses. When a reinforcement contingency is placed on sign responses as well as vocal responses that the user is capable of emitting in verbal imitation, both sign and vocal responses are maintained. Results are discussed in terms of the need for a reinforcement contingency placed on vocal and sign responses, the effects of teaching procedures on response variability, and the need for future research to examine procedures utilized to teach sign language to persons within the developmental disabilities population.

Certains agents pathogènes ou cellules tumorales échappent au système immunitaire parce que les cellules immunitaires ne reconnaissent pas les peptides ou protéines présents à leur surface. Les approches thérapeutiques favorisant la reconnaissance de ces peptides ou protéines faiblement immunogènes sont donc très attractives. Pour ainsi forcer l'activation des cellules présentatrices d'antigènes, plusieurs systèmes ont été décrits, à base de liposomes ou de nanoparticules inorganiques. Nous proposons ici d'utiliser un système à base de gouttelettes d'huile. Les micro ou nanogouttelettes d'huile végétale présentent de nombreux avantages par rapport aux microparticules solides inorganiques. Faites de triglycérides naturels, elles sont biocompatibles et biodégradables tout en étant plus robustes que les liposomes. Ce sont des plates-formes idéales pour construire des assemblages multifonctionnels pour la vectorisation. La première partie du projet traite de la synthèse de glycolipides nécessaires pour avoir une reconnaissance des gouttelettes par les lectines présentes dans le système immunitaire (DC-sign). La seconde partie du projet traite de la fabrication des gouttelettes d’huile fonctionnalisées avec les glycolipides précédemment synthétisés et la mise en évidence de leurs interactions avec des lectines. / Some pathogens or tumour cells escape the immune system because the immune cells misrecognize their surface peptides or proteins. Therapeutic approaches, promoting the recognition of these poorly immunogenic peptides or proteins are thus very attractive. The strategy is then to process directly peptides or proteins through cell presentating cells. To this end, some systems have been described, based on liposome or nanoparticles. We propose to use an oil droplet based system. Among the microparticles, vegetal oil microdroplets have numerous advantages over solid microparticles. Made of natural triglycerides, they are biocompatible and biodegradable. They are ideal platforms to build multifunctional assemblies for vectorization. In this project, we aim to design and address lipid (soya oil) droplet to dendritic cells via the lectin DC -sign. The first part deals of the synthesis of glycolipids necessary for the recognition by lectins. The second part presents the fabrication of functionalized oil droplets with previously synthesized glycolipids and their interaction with lectins.

Les muqueuses représentent la principale voie de contamination par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine 1 (VIH-1) indiquant qu'une protection au niveau des muqueuses serait nécessaire dans la prévention et le développement d'un vaccin efficace. La prise en charge du VIH-1 par l'intermédiaire de la gp120 se fait, grâce à des lectines de type C, au niveau de la muqueuse par les cellules de Langerhans (Langerine) et au niveau de la sous-muqueuse par les cellules dendritiques (DC-SIGN). Notre but était d'analyser la présence d'anticorps capables de bloquer l'interaction entre le virus et les lectines. Nous avons développé des tests spécifiques pour l'étude de la liaison de la gp120 du VIH-1 avec la Langerine et le DC-SIGN. Grâce à ces tests, nous avons pu caractériser des anticorps, dirigés contre la Langerine ou le DC-SIGN, permettant le blocage de la fixation de la gp120 sous forme conformationnelle. Nous avons utilisé ces tests validés pour étudier la fréquence d’anticorps bloquants dans le sérum de 110 individus séropositifs et 30 individus séronégatifs. Seulement peu de sujets infectés ont développé ce genre d'anticorps durant l'infection par le VIH-1. Nous avons pour la première fois décrit des anticorps bloquants chez des sujets séropositifs avec la capacité potentielle d’interférer dans la transmission des particules virales aux cellules dendritiques. Ces résultats permettent d'espérer la conception de nouvelles stratégies pour bloquer la transmission du VIH-1 au niveau des muqueuses et prévenir la dissémination du virus. Ces tests permettront de doser l'inhibition de la liaison de la gp120 soit à la Langerine soit au DC-SIGN et d'étudier différentes cohortes de sujets séropositifs et séronégatifs mais fortement exposés (HEPS) / Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is primarily transmitted sexually through mucosal surfaces, indicating that protection at mucosal sites may be crucial in prevention and in the development of an effective conventional vaccine against HIV-1. The HIV-1 gp120 is recognized by the C-type lectins of Langerhans cells (LCs), Langerin, in the mucosa and by the C-type lectins of dendritic cells (DCs), DC-SIGN in the sub-mucosa. Our aim was to analyze the presence of antibody able to block HIV / Lectins interactions. We have developed specific assays for the study of the binding of HIV-1 gp120 on human Langerin and DC-SIGN. With these assays, we have been able to characterize specific DC-SlGN and Langerin antibodies able to block fixation of conformational gp120 envelope protein. We have used our validated assays to monitor the prevalence of blocking antibodies in the sera of one hundred and ten HIV-1-infected individuals and thirty HIV-1 non-infected individuals. Only few patients have developed such type of antibodies during their infection. This is the first report which describes blocking antibodies in patients with the potential capacity to interfere during the mucosal transmission of HIV particles to mucosal DCs. The results provide a framework for the design of effective strategies to block local transmission and prevent HIV-1 spread. These tests will allow the measuring of the inhibition of gp120 binding to langerin or to DC-SIGN and the screening of different cohorts of HIV-1 positive subjects and HIV-1 negative but highly exposed subjects (HEPS)

Esta dissertação, intitulada Lexicografia da Língua de Sinais Brasileira (Libras) do Rio Grande do Sul, objetiva documentar o léxico de sinais de Libras usado pela população surda do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, com a finalidade de aumentar a representatividade geográfica lexical dos sinais de uso comum entre os surdos gaúchos nas próximas edições do Novo Deit-Libras: Novo Dicionário Enciclopédico Ilustrado Trilíngue da Língua de Sinais Brasileira (Capovilla, Raphael, & Mauricio). Dos 347.481 surdos brasileiros, 48.700 residem na região Sul, sendo que, das regiões do Brasil, o Sul tem a maior incidência proporcional de surdez (i.e., de pessoas que, na terminologia do IBGE, \"não conseguem ouvir de modo algum\") em relação à população total do mesmo estado. O Rio Grande do Sul tem uma população de 10.693.929 habitantes, dos quais 617.096 têm algum tipo de deficiência auditiva. Assim, 5,77% da população do estado tem deficiência auditiva, daí a necessidade de fazer o registro lexicográfico da língua de sinais usada pela população desse estado. Esta pesquisa lexicográfica é parte do programa de pesquisa de documentação lexicográfica de Libras do Laboratório de Neuropsicolinguística Cognitiva Experimental da Universidade de São Paulo, que tem documentado a língua de sinais de cada região brasileira. A pesquisa empregou procedimento padrão de pesquisa lexicográfica, incluindo, portanto, as etapas de levantamento, seleção de bibliografia, pesquisa de campo, análise e registro de dados. A pesquisa produziu um corpus de 2.869 sinais de Libras, todos plenamente documentados, descritos e ilustrados em sua forma e em seu significado, bem como distribuídos em 16 categorias semânticas / This dissertation, entitled Brazilian Sign Language Lexicography in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, aims to document the lexicon of the Brazilian Sign Language signs used by the deaf people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and to increase the geographic representation of lexical signs commonly used among deaf people from this state in the following edition of the trilingual sign dictionary -New Trilingual Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brazilian Sign Language (Capovilla, Raphael, & Mauricio). Out of the 347.481 Brazilian deaf, 48.700 live in the South Region of Brazil, which is the one with the highest relative incidence of deaf people (that is, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and it refers to people who cannot hear at all) if compared to the population in the state. Rio Grande do Sul has a population of 10.693.929 people of whom 617.096 have some kind of hearing impairment. Therefore, 5,77% of this state´s population has some kind of hearing loss and that is why it is necessary to register the Sign Language lexicon used by these people. This lexical research is part of the Brazilian lexicographic documentation research program of the Brazilian Sign Language and it is linked to Lance-USP, a laboratory at University of Sao Paulo, that has been documenting the Sign Language in each one of the country states. The research applied a standard procedure of lexicographical research, including the steps of collecting, bibliographic selection, field research, analysis and register of the data. The research has produced 2.869 signs for the Brazilian Sign Language, all fully documented, described and illustrated in both form and meaning, as well as distributed in 16 semantic categories

Esta dissertação, intitulada Lexicografia da Língua de Sinais Brasileira (Libras) do Rio Grande do Sul, objetiva documentar o léxico de sinais de Libras usado pela população surda do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, com a finalidade de aumentar a representatividade geográfica lexical dos sinais de uso comum entre os surdos gaúchos nas próximas edições do Novo Deit-Libras: Novo Dicionário Enciclopédico Ilustrado Trilíngue da Língua de Sinais Brasileira (Capovilla, Raphael, & Mauricio). Dos 347.481 surdos brasileiros, 48.700 residem na região Sul, sendo que, das regiões do Brasil, o Sul tem a maior incidência proporcional de surdez (i.e., de pessoas que, na terminologia do IBGE, \"não conseguem ouvir de modo algum\") em relação à população total do mesmo estado. O Rio Grande do Sul tem uma população de 10.693.929 habitantes, dos quais 617.096 têm algum tipo de deficiência auditiva. Assim, 5,77% da população do estado tem deficiência auditiva, daí a necessidade de fazer o registro lexicográfico da língua de sinais usada pela população desse estado. Esta pesquisa lexicográfica é parte do programa de pesquisa de documentação lexicográfica de Libras do Laboratório de Neuropsicolinguística Cognitiva Experimental da Universidade de São Paulo, que tem documentado a língua de sinais de cada região brasileira. A pesquisa empregou procedimento padrão de pesquisa lexicográfica, incluindo, portanto, as etapas de levantamento, seleção de bibliografia, pesquisa de campo, análise e registro de dados. A pesquisa produziu um corpus de 2.869 sinais de Libras, todos plenamente documentados, descritos e ilustrados em sua forma e em seu significado, bem como distribuídos em 16 categorias semânticas / This dissertation, entitled Brazilian Sign Language Lexicography in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, aims to document the lexicon of the Brazilian Sign Language signs used by the deaf people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and to increase the geographic representation of lexical signs commonly used among deaf people from this state in the following edition of the trilingual sign dictionary -New Trilingual Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brazilian Sign Language (Capovilla, Raphael, & Mauricio). Out of the 347.481 Brazilian deaf, 48.700 live in the South Region of Brazil, which is the one with the highest relative incidence of deaf people (that is, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and it refers to people who cannot hear at all) if compared to the population in the state. Rio Grande do Sul has a population of 10.693.929 people of whom 617.096 have some kind of hearing impairment. Therefore, 5,77% of this state´s population has some kind of hearing loss and that is why it is necessary to register the Sign Language lexicon used by these people. This lexical research is part of the Brazilian lexicographic documentation research program of the Brazilian Sign Language and it is linked to Lance-USP, a laboratory at University of Sao Paulo, that has been documenting the Sign Language in each one of the country states. The research applied a standard procedure of lexicographical research, including the steps of collecting, bibliographic selection, field research, analysis and register of the data. The research has produced 2.869 signs for the Brazilian Sign Language, all fully documented, described and illustrated in both form and meaning, as well as distributed in 16 semantic categories

Thesis (M. A.. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Support and training services serves as a key to easy life for the deaf community. The whole experience allows deaf people to batter people who understand who they are and how life should be. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the support and training Sign Language services provided at Setotolwane Secondary School. Data was collected from Setotolwane Secondary School using semi-structured interviews. Qualitative approach was used where ten (10) people were interviewed. Among then there were five (5) deaf learners and five (5) Sign Language teachers. Finally, the results show that deaf people are being provided with support and training Sign Language service. The services provided are not enough that are further recommendations to improve in the situation. This study aims to indicate how relevant support and training can improve and empower the deaf community around the world. Keywords Sign Language, support services, training services

The majority of deaf children are born to hearing parents. The fact that many of these children use sign language as their primary form of communication poses a unique language barrier between them and their hearing families. In addition, for children who are born into Hispanic families, these children have limited access to Hispanic and Deaf cultures unless their families actively pursue involvement with those communities. Data were collected through ethnographic interviews and limited participant observation and analyzed by means of grounded theory methodology. The study investigated how Hispanic mothers communicate with their deaf children who use ASL as their primary language, as well as how these mothers view Deafness as a culture.

In this paper, doubling in Russian Sign Language and Sign Language of the Netherlands is discussed. In both sign languages different constituents (including verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and whole clauses) can be doubled. It is shown that doubling in both languages has common functions and exhibits a similar structure, despite some differences. On this basis, a unified pragmatic explanation for many doubling phenomena on both the discourse and the clause-internal levels is provided, namely that the main function of doubling both in RSL and NGT is foregrounding of the doubled information.