Compiling a Basic Vocabulary for German Sign Language (DGS) – lexicographic issues with a focus on word senses

Nowadays lexicographic work such as lemma selection, identification of word senses and usage information are usually based on large corpora. Sign language lexicographers face the same difficulties as their colleagues of other less studied and previously not written minority languages. They cannot rely on written texts and large corpora. In addition sign language linguists have to cope with sign-language specific issues due to the visual-gestural modality, namely the iconicity of signs, a broad utilization of simultaneity of linguistic signals and the integration of lexical material of a spoken language by the way of mouthings. Sign language specific lexicographic issues are discussed and exemplified with regard to the Basic Vocabulary of German Sign Language (DGS) that is compiled within the larger context of the DGS Corpus Project. The Basic Vocabulary is not corpus-based but based on previously published sign collections that are used as a starting point. The data is reviewed, sign senses are finer split and disambiguated and the data then undergo a validation process by the sign language community. This validation process is conducted through a feedback system especially designed for surveys involving sign language.