『한국수화사전』의 성격과 해석

Abstract

This study reports on an investigation into the characteristics and interpretations of the Korean Sign Language Dictionary(2005/2007) and the sign language listed within. Findings of the study can be summarized as follows. First, the two editions of the dictionary are identical: both contain 6,812 entry words, of which 2,220 (32.59%) are native words, 4,205 (61.73) are Sino-Korean words, and 386 (5.67%) are words of Western origin; furthermore, the statistics relating to the first and parallel parts of speech in the 13 categories are analyzed in terms of grammar-related information. Second, sign language compositions (i.e., one type and two types) are shown on the basis of sign language picture forms. Semantic relations of sign language vocabulary (polysemous words, homo-image words, anto- image words, superordinate and hyponym) are also revealed and interpreted. Third, the correlation between the 6,812 vocabulary items in this dictionary and the 5,965 items of ‘Korean learning vocabulary’ is examined. The number of common vocabulary items is 2,809 (41.24%), while the number of vocabulary items specific to this dictionary is 4,003 (58.76%). Many of these latter items are relatively unfamiliar Sino-Korean words originating from early manifestations of Korean culture and its institutions. Fourth, this dictionary is significant in that it is the first standard Korean sign language dictionary. It therefore represents an important communication resource for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as facilitating communication between them and interlocutors who have no hearing disability. The dictionary is also important for its facilitation of sign language education and research. However, the study has identified a number of limitations: the dictionary includes various inconsistencies and errors, while many of the entry words are not part of a basic, fundamental vocabulary. In consequence, the dictionary can be said to fall below the reasonable expectations of its remit. Lastly, it remains to identify the correlation of expressions and meanings according to the differences in sign language picture forms in order to clarify the characteristics of the dictionary, to reveal aspects of arbitrariness and iconicity in sign language vocabulary, and to describe the correlations of communication and learning. A further challenge is to classify sign language vocabulary pictures according to basic and fundamental vocabulary items.