Representation of Sign Animation for Japanese-into-Japanese Sign Language Translation

A method of translating Japanese into Japanese Sign Language (JSL) is described. Translated, or sign sentences are visualized by means of animation where a human model acts as a translater. The model has a simplified skeletal structure and wears multipolygonal skin and clothes. Facial expression and mouth shape are controlled by moving a small set of polygon vertexes. Japanese sentences are transformed into JSL ones through their case frames and established grammatical rules and nonmanual movements are introduced into JSL description before it is visualized by composing sign animation. Some of future issues are suggested.