About

This NZSL Dictionary can be cited as follows:

McKee, D., McKee, R., Pivac Alexander, S., Pivac, L., & Vale, M. (2011). Online dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language. Wellington: Deaf Studies Research Unit, Victoria University of Wellington.

Material from this dictionary, including the drawings and videos, is licensed under a Creative Commons license. This means that you can use and adapt dictionary content provided that you:

• attribute this website (http://nzsl.nz) as the source, and indicate any changes that you have made.
• do not use the material for commercial purposes
•  If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.

Examples of acceptable use:

• using drawings or videos from NZSL dictionary in teaching / learning resources for a class
• using drawings from NZSL dictionary for signage or posters in a school
• using drawings from NZSL dictionary for creating a free multilingual vocabulary booklet for parents.
• creating a free flashcard app using some or all of the signs in NZSL Dictionary.

The drawings in NZSL Dictionary are in screen resolution and may not print well. You can download a higher resolution print-readyversion of individual signs by clicking on the blue download arrow underneath the image. Contact [email protected] if you need further assistance.

 

The Online Dictionary of NZSL is a multimedia digital resource designed for use by learners and teachers of NZSL, Deaf people, families and associates of Deaf people, interpreters, researchers, and public agencies, among others. The dictionary is a reference tool that allows users to search for NZSL vocabulary through either English / Te Reo Māori words or by the visual features of signs themselves.  Te Reo Māori translations have been added to each entry, making the dictionary accessible in three languages.

Dictionary users are bound to find some gaps for concepts that are not yet included, because the documentation of NZSL remains a work in progress. As with any language, NZSL vocabulary constantly changes and grows in response to the experiences of the language community. This online format will allow for the dictionary to be updated more readily than in the past.

An online dictionary provides information about the lexicon or words of a language, and creates an historical record of its development through time. However, it is not designed to be a stand-alone tool for teaching, learning or translating NZSL. These activities require more extensive and structured exposure to ‘live’ use of NZSL, supported by reference to the contents of the dictionary.

 

Managing Editor

Dr. Rachel McKee

Consultant Editor

Dr. David McKee

Compilation Editor

Sara Pivac Alexander

Technical Editor / Database Manager

Dr. Mireille Vale

Research Assistant

Kyle Cloete

Sign Models

James Berry

Mark Berry

Candice David

Suzanne Hanson

Daniel Harborne

Victoria Lessing

Jackie Overall

Sara Pivac Alexander

Sonia Pivac

Ricki Pointon

Jon Tai-Rakena

Amber Tiopira-Waaka

English Translation

Alan Wendt

James Bichan

Wenda Walton

Sonia Pivac

Māori Translation

Makere Jordan-Kaa

Te Haumihiata Mason (Te Taura Whiri)

Kararaina Uatuku (Te Taura Whiri)

Ashley McGregor

Graphics Artists

Shaun Fahey

Becky West

Filming

Video NZ Ltd

Website

Ackama

 

NZSL Online Dictionary has been made possible by an Encouraging and Supporting Innovation (ESI) grant from the Tertiary Education Commission.

Te Reo Māori translation in the dictionary was funded by the Mā Te Reo Fund and quality assured by Te Taura Whiri / Māori Language Commission.

Further web redevelopment and content additions to the NZSL Online Dictionary have been funded by several grants through the Ministry of Social Development and the NZSL Fund.

The content of this online Dictionary is substantially based on A Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language (1997) and A Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language (2002). The project owes a huge debt of gratitude to the original General Editor of those dictionaries, Professor Graeme Kennedy, and to editorial team members: Richard Arnold, Pat Dugdale, Shaun Fahey and David Moskovitz. Compilation of data in the original 1997 Dictionary was assisted by over 90 members of the New Zealand Deaf Community who are acknowledged by name in that work.

We want to acknowledge the contributions of previous staff members of the Deaf Studies Research Unit and of our partner organisations who supported the project and facilitated the validation of additional signs in this dictionary.

• Victoria University of Wellington: Dr. David McKee (previous Managing Editor), Darryl Alexander, Mark Berry, Rebecca Siu, Sophia Wallingford
• Deaf Aotearoa NZ: Della Buzzard, Rachel Noble, Victoria Lessing, Catherine Greenwood
• Van Asch Deaf Education Centre: Paul Buzzard, Tess Hilmer, Janet Stokes
• Kelston Deaf Education Centre: Hilda Baker, Sarah Cameron, Shona McGhie, Pam Croskery, Jan Howard
• Auckland University of Technology: Debbie Corder, Lynette Pivac (previous Compilation Editor)

Support from the following organisations and individuals is also gratefully acknowledged:

• Research Office, Victoria University of Wellington
• Dave Moskovitz, ThinkTank Consulting (previous Technical Editor), for his ongoing technical support
• Dr. Peter Andreae, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, for his advice on IT issues and development of a prototype online dictionary.
• 3Months for development of the original online dictionary website.
• Bridget Williams Books (publisher of the Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language (1997) and the Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language (2002)
• The Danish Sign Language Dictionary editorial staff: Jette H. Kristoffersen, Thomas Troelsgård, Bo Hårdell, Janne Boye Niemelä
• Dr Diane Bardsley, The New Zealand Dictionary Centre
• School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies