Encoding of emotions in Singapore Sign Language (SgSL)

• Main Author: Muhammad Hidayat Abdul Khalid
• Other Authors: Frantisek Kratochvil
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/69697
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper describes the strategies for the expression of emotions by users of Singapore Sign Language (SgSL). The study of emotions in sign language is lacking and this study aims to expand the existing research, adding to the research on the transmission of affective message through manual movements. This is done by observing the latter as well as non-manuals in conversation to determine if there are certain features that can be mapped onto the expression of specific emotions. A user of SgSL was recorded and his expressions of emotions were analysed to determine the features of the signing that is significant in identifying the emotions. Seven participants are shown these clips to discern the emotions. Participants were able to agree on the emotion category of the stimuli, despite not agreeing with the originally identified emotion. The features of expression that maps onto emotion categories could not be clearly defined as there were insufficient members in the emotion category or divergent members in the category could not be compared within the group.