Search Engine Interfaces for Sign Languages: Designing a Multilanguage Questionnaire to Collect Signers’ Perception of Handshapes Similarities

Abstract

Sign language search engine interfaces in dictionaries are different from spoken languages’, as they have numerous visual elements representing its phonological parameters in the design. One of these parameters is called handshape. In this study, we address the process of designing a questionnaire to assess handshapes similarity, as the understanding of how signers perceive these similarities is an important step towards using design principles for supporting innovative ways of displaying handshapes on search engine interfaces. We start by presenting sign language handshapes and their use on search engine interfaces. Next, we describe the development of a multilanguage questionnaire to assess handshapes similarities. This process consists of designing handshapes similarity questions, running a focus group, redesigning the questions, and translating from English to four target languages (Libras, NGT, Portuguese, and Dutch). Having finished the questionnaire design, we started collecting data from Brazilian and Dutch signers. Results reveal some of the complexities involved when approximating design and sign language linguistics in the development of digital interfaces. Beyond reassuring the importance of responsive content in the questionnaire’s interface design and having the end-user participate in the process, which are already points of convergence in the research literature, our study reveals a possible influence of ‘orientation’ in handshape similarity assessment.