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MA Thesis Defence – Helen Zhang

March 28, 2023

Congratulations to Helen Zhang for successfully defending her MA thesis, 鈥Creating an Online Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥 Dictionary for Teachers and Learners.

Abstract

This thesis is about a collaborative dictionary project for Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥. Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥 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鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥 Language & Culture Society (HLCS), based in Duncan, BC. The work on Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥 is also being used a model for a collaborative dictionary project for the neighboring Downriver dialect of Halkomelem, h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛.

Keywords

Halkomelem; Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥; Salish; dictionary; digital lexicography

Members of Examining Committee

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

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