Representing Libras Poetry on Video

Fernanda de Araujo Machado has taught Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and literature of Brazilian sign Language at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. since 2014. She completed her Masters degree in 2013 on Symmetry in Sign Language poetry and defended her PhD on anthologies of Libras poetry in 2017.Fernanda de Araujo Machado has taught Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and literature of Brazilian sign Language at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. since 2014. She completed her Masters degree in 2013 on Symmetry in Sign Language poetry and defended her PhD on anthologies of Libras poetry in 2017

Video recording of “Fallen Angel”

The video presented here is designed as a guide for filming sign language poetry. Using a series of takes of a single poem in Brazilian Sign Language “Fallen Angel” (in Portuguese “Anjo Caido”) by the Brazilian sign language poet Fernanda Machado, the video shows options for filming and editing a piece of sign language poetry. This short video complements the longer article in this collection “Representing Libras Poetry on Video” by Fernanda Machado.The video presented here is designed as a guide for filming sign language poetry. Using a series of takes of a single poem in Brazilian Sign Language “Fallen Angel” (in Portuguese “Anjo Caido”) by the Brazilian sign language poet Fernanda Machado, the video shows options for filming and editing a piece of sign language poetry. This short video complements the longer article in this collection “Representing Libras Poetry on Video” by Fernanda Machado

SENTENCE ARTICULATION IN BRAZILIAN SIGN LANGUAGE – LIBRAS

Articulation of sentences is a grammatical strategy found in any natural language. This phenomenon generates complex constructions which appear in a gradient continuum (parataxis – hypotaxis – enchainment), based on the integration of syntactical, semantical, and pragmatical levels of the language in use. The current research is based on the functionalist perspective of language. The objective of this paper is to describe the process of articulation of sentences in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). Thereto, we aim at identifying strategies of articulating sentences in Brazilian sign language, taking into account possible complex articulations. We analyze videos taken from conversations via social networks, produced in bidirectional and a-synchronic interaction by three signing deaf of Brazilian sign language. The videos were analyzed on Elan, a multimodal program which enables simultaneous description of audio and/or video. This is an on-going research and here we discuss some initial findings. Among the results, we enhance that Libras employs different discourse strategies of articulating complex sentences: the use of juxtaposition and facial expressions to articulate complex sentences, as well as the use of lexical items to characterize different complex relations, which emphasize the richness and creativity of Brazilian sign language. Thus, complex sentences in Brazilian sign language embodies different discursive strategies to structure parataxis, hypotaxis and enchainment.La articulación de oraciones es una estrategia gramatical encontrada en todas las lenguas naturales. Este fenómeno origina construcciones complejas que se manifiestan en un continuo gradiente (parataxis - hipotaxis - encajamiento), a partir de la integración de niveles sintáctico, semántico y pragmático de la lengua en uso. El presente estudio se rige por una perspectiva funcionalista del lenguaje. El objetivo de este artículo es describir el proceso de articulación de oraciones en libras. Para esto, pretendemos identificar las estrategias de articulación de oraciones en la lengua brasileña de señas, considerando las posibles articulaciones complejas - parataxis, hipotaxis o encajamiento. Analizamos videos provenientes de conversaciones vía redes sociales, producidos en interacción bidireccional y asíncrona de tres sordos señalizadores de la lengua brasileña de señas. Los vídeos fueron analizados en Elan, programa multimodal de descripción simultánea de audio y/o video. Este estudio está en marcha y aquí presentamos algunos resultados iniciales. Entre ellos, destacamos que la libras utiliza diferentes estrategias discursivas para articular oraciones complejas: el uso de la yuxtaposición y expresiones faciales para articular oraciones complejas, así como el uso de elementos lexicales para caracterizar diferentes relaciones complejas, lo que enfatiza la riqueza y la creatividad de la lengua brasileña de señas. Así, las oraciones complejas de libras incorporan diferentes estrategias discursivas para estructurar parataxis, hipotaxis y encajamiento.A articulação de orações é uma estratégia gramatical encontrada em todas as línguas naturais. Esse fenômeno origina construções complexas que se manifestam em um contínuo gradiente (parataxe – hipotaxe – encaixamento), a partir da integração de níveis sintático, semântico e pragmático da língua em uso. O presente estudo é regido por uma perspectiva funcionalista da linguagem. O objetivo desse artigo é descrever o processo de articulação de orações na libras. Para tanto, pretendemos identificar as estratégias de articulação de orações na língua brasileira de sinais, considerando as possíveis articulações complexas – parataxe, hipotaxe ou encaixamento. Analisamos vídeos provenientes de conversas via redes sociais, produzidos em interação bidirecional e assíncrona de três surdos sinalizantes da língua brasileira de sinais. Os vídeos foram analisados no Elan, programa multimodal de descrição simultânea de áudio e/ou vídeo. Este estudo está em andamento e aqui apresentamos alguns achados iniciais. Dentre os resultados, destacamos que a libras utiliza diferentes estratégias discursivas para articular orações complexas: o uso de justaposição e expressões faciais para articular orações complexas, bem como o uso de itens lexicais para caracterizar diferentes relações complexas, o que enfatiza a riqueza e a criatividade da língua brasileira de sinais. Assim, as orações complexas da libras incorporam diferentes estratégias discursivas para estruturar parataxe, hipotaxe e encaixamento

Continuous sign recognition of brazilian sign language in a healthcare setting

Communication is the basis of human society. The majority of people communicate using spoken language in oral or written form. However, sign language is the primary mode of communication for deaf people. In general, understanding spoken information is a major challenge for the deaf and hard of hearing. Access to basic information and essential services is challenging for these individuals. For example, without translation support, carrying out simple tasks in a healthcare center such as asking for guidance or consulting with a doctor, can be hopelessly difficult. Computer-based sign language recognition technologies offer an alternative to mitigate the communication barrier faced by the deaf and hard of hearing. Despite much effort, research in this field is still in its infancy and automatic recognition of continuous signing remains a major challenge. This paper presents an ongoing research project designed to recognize continuous signing of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) in healthcare settings. Health emergency situations and dialogues inspire the vocabulary of the signs and sentences we are using to contribute to the field301Vision-based human activity recognition8289COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESnão te

Beyond Language Policies: Deaf Protagonism, Brazilian Sign Language and Deaf Education

This paper presents the linguistic plan for Brazilian Sign Language, also known as Libras (Língua Brasileira de Sinais), which has an impact on deaf education in Brazil. A set of actions for the recognition of Libras has been established given the development of research in the field of deaf education, sign language linguistics and sign language translation and interpretation through the involvement of the National Deaf Education and Integration Federation, FENEIS (Federação Nacional de Educação e Integração de Surdos). Documents created by the deaf and scientific publications have contributed to establishing a law that recognises Libras, as well as political actions that legitimise deaf education. However, some educational policies prevent the deaf from access to education. This paper presents the actions that contributed to the recognition of sign language and deaf education and discusses the educational policies that make deaf access to education difficult given their linguistic and cultural specificities. It also presents the subsidies associated with the bilingual linguistic policy in deaf education – Libras and Portuguese –, thus, indicating the need for the implementation and application of Libras and Portuguese teaching in Brazil. In addition, an analysis of the developments of this public policy is presented, considering some crucial concepts that potentially influence decisions and referrals based on linguistic policies and on the rights of deaf people, which are based on the concepts of‘ diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ (Kusters, et al., 2015)

Validation of the WHOQOL-Bref instrument in Brazilian sign language (Libras)

Purpose: the recognition of the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) as the official language of the Brazilian deaf, in 2002, reaffirms the linguistic and cultural particularities of the deaf population. Therefore, there is a lack of a validated instrument for assessing the Quality of Life of deaf people using Libras. With authorization from the World Health Organization (WHO), a version of the WHOQOL-Bref in Libras was developed, called WHOQOL-Bref/Libras. However, its psychometric properties have not been examined as yet. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to perform the psychometric validation of the WHOQOL-Bref/Libras. Methods: WHOQOL-Bref/Libras and a sociodemographic questionnaire were applied to 311 deaf people from the five Brazilian regions. To assess temporal stability, the questionnaire was readministered to 52 deaf people, over an interval of 2 weeks. Results: WHOQOL-Bref/Libras demonstrated satisfactory psychometric values for reliability, discriminant and construct validity, temporal stability, and internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed satisfactory values for each of the WHOQOL-Bref domains: Physical health (0.641), Psychological (0.705), Environment (0.710), and Overall-Bref domains (0.873). The WHOQOL-Bref/Libras is the appropriate option to assess the quality of life of deaf people who communicate through Libras. Conclusion: WHOQOL-Bref/Libras had a satisfactory psychometric performance; therefore, it is a valid option that will provide autonomous participation for the deaf in quality of life investigations