National Institute of Korean Language Korean Sign Language Nuri Dictionary Opens on the 6th

Opening Ceremony to Be Held at the International Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Biznis Tower, Sangam-dong

The National Institute of the Korean Language announced on the 5th that it will launch a new Korean Sign Language-Korean dictionary, 'Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon,' on the 6th, which captures the Korean Sign Language actually used by the deaf and allows users to confirm the visual linguistic characteristics of Korean Sign Language.

Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon is a dictionary based on a Korean Sign Language corpus (video materials) that reflects the unique linguistic features of Korean Sign Language. To help users better understand Korean Sign Language and Deaf culture, it fully records sign language information such as the meanings of headwords, corresponding Korean expressions, usage examples, sign illustrations, and sign language characters. Additionally, deaf individuals participated in all compilation processes to include the sign language actually used in the Deaf community.

'Korean Sign Language Nuri Dictionary' Home Screen [Photo by National Institute of Korean Language]

Containing over 1,000 entries, Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon allows users to search for desired entries by sign language form or Korean, and the dictionary menu is provided simultaneously in sign language videos and Hangul. The dictionary usage instructions are also provided through sign language videos, enabling deaf people who use Korean Sign Language as their native language, a visible language, to use the dictionary easily and conveniently. Among various dictionary features, allowing users to select only the information they need and customize the screen is also a notable function that enhances user convenience.

The launch event for the first public release of Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon will be held at 2 p.m. on the 6th in the international conference room on the 3rd floor of the Biznis Tower in Sangam-dong. The event will include a report on the dictionary compilation process and a demonstration of dictionary searches, as well as an awards ceremony for the Korean Sign Language naming contest for the dictionary, which was held last December. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of the public, 233 sign language names were submitted to the naming contest. The winning entries and the sign language name of Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon will be revealed for the first time at this launch event. In addition, there will be a congratulatory performance by 'HandSpeak,' which continues communication with the world through sign language and art, and an experience zone where visitors can directly search the dictionary.

The National Institute of the Korean Language began compiling Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon in 2019 with a pilot dictionary project and has worked on it for six years. It is expected that Hanguk Su-eo Nuri Sajeon will become a valuable asset for the deaf, embodying the language and culture of the Deaf community, and serve as a guide for learners who had difficulty accessing information about Korean Sign Language to learn it easily.

The National Institute of the Korean Language plans to continue dictionary compilation work, such as adding headwords, to ensure that the sign language used by the deaf is sufficiently reflected in the dictionary even after its launch.