From 24f1a55d25bc56d8789004da2ca79a8ecc02a3c3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Amit Moryossef Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:18:12 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Cite Kim et al. (2024) on underexplored sign language research topics Add a sentence in the Solving Real Needs section referencing the SignLang 2024 position paper that surveys a decade of deep-learning sign language research and identifies linguistically important but underexplored topics (role-shifting, depicting signs, topicalization, rhythm, pragmatics). Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) --- src/index.md | 2 +- src/references.bib | 12 ++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/src/index.md b/src/index.md index 2289bdc..ce00a20 100644 --- a/src/index.md +++ b/src/index.md @@ -1223,7 +1223,7 @@ Researchers in SLP should acknowledge that signed languages belong to the Deaf c ###### Solving Real Needs {-} Many efforts in SLP have developed intrusive methods (e.g., requiring signers to wear special gloves), which are often rejected by signing communities and therefore have limited real-world value. -Such efforts are often marketed to perform "sign language translation" when they, in fact, only identify fingerspelling or recognize a minimal set of isolated signs at best. These approaches oversimplify the rich grammar of signed languages, promote the misconception that signs are solely expressed through the hands, and are considered by the Deaf community as a manifestation of audism, where it is the signers who must make the extra effort to wear additional sensors to be understood by non-signers [@erard2017sign]. To avoid such mistakes, we encourage close Deaf involvement throughout the research process to ensure that we direct our efforts toward applications that will be adopted by signers and do not make false assumptions about signed languages or the needs of signing communities. +Such efforts are often marketed to perform "sign language translation" when they, in fact, only identify fingerspelling or recognize a minimal set of isolated signs at best. These approaches oversimplify the rich grammar of signed languages, promote the misconception that signs are solely expressed through the hands, and are considered by the Deaf community as a manifestation of audism, where it is the signers who must make the extra effort to wear additional sensors to be understood by non-signers [@erard2017sign]. Reviewing a decade of deep-learning sign language papers, @kim-etal-2024-shedding similarly argue that linguistically important phenomena such as role-shifting, depicting signs, topicalization, rhythm, and pragmatics remain underexplored, leaving a disconnect between research outputs and the actual sign language used by signers. To avoid such mistakes, we encourage close Deaf involvement throughout the research process to ensure that we direct our efforts toward applications that will be adopted by signers and do not make false assumptions about signed languages or the needs of signing communities. ###### Building Collaboration {-} Deaf collaborations and leadership are essential for developing signed language technologies to ensure they address the community's needs and will be adopted, not relying on misconceptions or inaccuracies about signed language [@harris2009research;@kusters2017innovations]. diff --git a/src/references.bib b/src/references.bib index ce148e3..1f22a78 100644 --- a/src/references.bib +++ b/src/references.bib @@ -4717,6 +4717,14 @@ @inproceedings{malaia-etal-2024-capturing author = "Malaia, Evie and Borneman, Joshua and Gurbuz, Sevgi", +} + +@inproceedings{kim-etal-2024-shedding, + title = "Shedding Light on the Underexplored: Tackling the Minor Sign Language Research Topics", + author = "Kim, Jung-Ho and + Ko, Changyong and + Huerta-Enochian, Mathew and + Ko, Seung Yong", editor = "Efthimiou, Eleni and Fotinea, Stavroula-Evita and Hanke, Thomas and @@ -4731,3 +4739,7 @@ @inproceedings{malaia-etal-2024-capturing url = "https://aclanthology.org/2024.signlang-1.23/", pages = "213--218" } + + url = "https://aclanthology.org/2024.signlang-1.16/", + pages = "147--158" +}