RULES FOR ESTONIAN SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSCRIPTION
RULES FOR ESTONIAN SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSCRIPTION

Summary/Abstract: Estonian Sign Language (ESL) is the native language for approximately 1,500 Estonian Deaf people. Like other sign languages, ESL has no written form. In the history of ESL research, different transcription systems have been used. The system introduced here is the amended version of the transcription system first presented in 2006. The structure of the transcription system follows the example of W. Stokoe’s notation system and its expansions. Phonemes of Estonian Sign Language are introduced and symbols for 36 hand forms, 27 locations, and 20 different movements are presented. All symbols are easy to use with any computer program. For the detailed transcription of the signs, symbols for the palm and finger orientation as well as the relationship between the two hands are given. The general algorithm proposed here for sign transcription follows the structure of HamNoSys, notating hand form first, followed by internal movement of the hand, palm and finger orientation, location and movement.

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