The FRS-FNRS and the University of Namur (UNamur) – Incentive Grant for Scientific Research (MIS)

Corpus and discourse in French Belgian Sign Language (LSFB)

The University of Namur (UNamur) is pleased to announce a research grant position within the framework of the Incentive Grant for Scientific Research (MIS) “Discourse in French Belgian Sign Language (LSFB)” allocated by the FRS-FNRS in 2012.

This MIS project is creating the first referential LSFB corpus which will serve as a common resource for developing the knowledge of LSFB at the level of discourse: discourse structure, sociolinguistic variation, contact between LSFB and French, comparison between LSFB and Vlaamse Gebarentaal (VGT), temporal markers at the level of discourse, etc. The originality of this SL corpus will be its rich variety with respect to productions (discourse types (or genres), registers or propositional context) and interlocutors.

Tasks: The successful candidate will be involved in the reflections and decisions related to the scientific and practical accomplishment of the project. His/her role will be

– to assist the team’s reflection on the corpus construction (elicitation, annotation, methodological options, relation with the Deaf community, etc.) by studying and relaying the foreign experiences of collecting sign language corpora;

– to report and document the methodological options adopted by the team throughout the project duration, and to analyse the issues of these methodological options;

– to take part actively in the diffusion of the project and recruitment of participants among the French Belgian Deaf Community;

– to participate in the training of the deaf collaborators (interviewers and annotators);

– to assist and give feedback in the corpus recording sessions with the interviewer and the informants;

– to analyse the collected data (various research axes are possible: discourse structure, linguistic variation, language contact, etc.).

– to participate in the production of scientific literature and attendance to international sign language conferences

Key-words: sign languages, corpus, discourse, discourse genres, sociolinguistic variation

Candidate profile: The candidate must possess a Master’s degree (or a diploma recognized as equivalent by the Communauté française de Belgique) in linguistics, humanities or Deaf-related studies. An excellent knowledge of LSFB (or possibly another sign language) is required as well as an advanced proficiency in written English. A good knowledge of and easy contacts with the Deaf comunity are essential. Previous experience in sign language data collection and a command of written and spoken French are an asset.

Application: Applicants should send the following documents before Monday 26th August 2013:

– a CV

– a cover letter presenting their interest in relation to the research project

– the names and e-mail addresses of two referees.

Funding : FRS-FNRS (Fund for Scientific Research – French speaking community of Belgium)

Grant amount: according to the FRS-FNRS norms (+/- 33 000 Euros per year)

Contact :

Laurence Meurant

laurence.meurant@fundp.ac.be

Langues et littératures françaises et romanes

Université de Namur

rue de Bruxelles, 61

5000 Namur, Belgique