On National Portuguese Sign Language Day, we share the Contemporary Dictionary of Portuguese Sign Language, a research project currently under development, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, coordinated by researcher Paulo Vaz de Carvalho (NICE_Lab / CIIS-UCP) and co-coordinated by researcher Joana Rato (NICE_Lab / CIIS-UCP) and researcher Hugo Nicolau (LARSyS, IST).

The Contemporary Dictionary of Portuguese Sign Language (DCLGP) is the first dictionary in which Portuguese Sign Language (LGP) gestures can be searched by their gestural parameters. With over 2,000 annotated entries, this dictionary has a unique gesture search engine, making it possible to search for a gesture by text or by its characteristics: Hand Configuration, Location, Palm Orientation, Movement, and Facial Expression. 

This dictionary has two resources:

1st Cycle Dictionary: ideal resource for bilingual learning in the first cycle of LGP-Portuguese, also featuring a unique gesture search engine, allowing you to search for a gesture by text or by its characteristics: Hand Configuration, Location, Orientation, Movement, and Facial Expression.

LGP4Fun: interactive game for the first cycle, for two players, with the aim of bilingual learning in LGP-Portuguese, with 4 fun levels! Ideal for classrooms.

The aim is to continuously update the DCLGP. To this end, this dictionary offers signers the opportunity to participate in the decision-making and discussion of new terms for the Dictionary by submitting proposals via text or video and voting on new terms.

The DCLGP is being built for deaf people and with deaf people.