ELAN Software for Sign
Language Research in Malaysia
Ho Koon Wei
University of Malaya
MySL Research Project
Brief Information about Malaysian
Deaf Community
31,715 Deaf registered as in 2007 (source
Department of Social Welfare Malaysia)
First Deaf school was established in 1954.
Oralism method was used.
Total Communication (TC) was introduced
in 1978 which include Kod Tangan Bahasa
Malaysia (KTBM).
Brief Information about Malaysian
Deaf Community
Deaf organisations were established
around 1970’s.
Deaf communities soon realised
Malaysian Sign Language (MySL) is a true
and natural language for the Deaf.
Increased interest among hearing people
on learning sign language.
Currently, sign language courses are
provided by some organisations of / for the
Deaf.
World scenario – Sign Language
Research
Around 1960’s William Stokoe did a
research on the American Sign Language.
Since then, linguists from many countries
are interested in studying sign language of
their country.
These studies have made an impact of the
deaf education and livelihoods among the
Deaf Community in many western
countries but still at it’s infancy in Asian
countries.
World scenario – Sign Language
Research
Besides William Stokoe’s notation system,
a few other notation systems have been
developed to study sign phonology.
Some examples:
– Hamburg notation system – e-Sign Editor
– Johnson & Liddell
notation system
– Eshkol-Wachmann
Movement Notation
System
World scenario – Sign Language
Research
Besides the old method of recording sign
language (video player), a few tools have
been developed to study sign linguistics.
Some examples:
– SignStream
– E-LAN
World scenario – Sign Language
Research
Some claim that sign languages are a
form of written languages.
– SignWriting
SignText Editor
SignBank
DocumentMaker
SignPuddle Online
Malaysian scenario – incorporating
ELAN in our research
The promotion of sign language has led to
the need of having sign language
research.
In 2007, Faculty of Language and
Linguistics, University of Malaysia took the
initial step to apply for a grant to carry out
MySL sign language research project.
E-Lan software was chosen as an
essential software tool to record data for
analysis.
What is ELAN?
ELAN stands for the Eudico Linguistic
Annotator.
A software programme.
ELAN is a professional tool for the creation
of complex annotations on video and
audio resources.
What is ELAN?
It was developed and used at the Max
Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics,
Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
ELAN was discovered to be a useful tool
for sign language research.
Some countries have started using ELAN
for Sign Language research.
ELAN window
ELAN Features
Annotations (no limit) - unicode
Tiers (no limit)
Video (up to 4) in mpg type
Audio in wav type
Search Tool – word, sign gloss, gestures,
sounds
Benefits
Able to be saved in one file – eaf type.
Convenient
Able to share and discuss on sign
language.
Help us in language learning and teaching.
Help us in sign language research and
analysis.
Able to check translation materials.
Sample
Here is an example of our Malaysian Sign
Language sample in ELAN programme.
Summary
ELAN – a breakthrough for researchers of
Sign Linguistics
Provide opportunities for Deaf persons to
further their education in Sign Linguistics