԰AV

MA Thesis Defence – Helen Zhang

March 28, 2023

Congratulations to Helen Zhang for successfully defending her MA thesis, “Creating an Online Hul’q’umi’num’ Dictionary for Teachers and Learners.

Abstract

This thesis is about a collaborative dictionary project for Hul’q’umi’num’. Hul’q’umi’num’ is the Island dialect of Halkomelem, a Salishan language spoken in BC, Canada.

This involved the compilation of legacy and new language materials into a modern database, along with the creation of an online dictionary website with a subset of words directed at learners and teachers. Legacy documents had to be converted into the modern Unicode standard and then transliterated into a practical orthography. The dictionary design work, including the creation of a new classification system, was done in collaboration with community members from the Hul’q’umi’num’ Language & Culture Society (HLCS), based in Duncan, BC. The work on Hul’q’umi’num’ is also being used a model for a collaborative dictionary project for the neighboring Downriver dialect of Halkomelem, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓.

Keywords

Halkomelem; Hul’q’umi’num’; Salish; dictionary; digital lexicography

Members of Examining Committee

Dr. Heather Bliss, ԰AV (Chair)
Dr. Nancy Hedberg, ԰AV (Supervisor)
Dr. Donna Gerdts, ԰AV (Committee Member)
Dr. David Beck, University of Alberta (External Examiner)

This event was held on Friday, March 24th at 1-4pm remotely over Zoom.