Citation Form

The standard, isolated way a sign is produced when demonstrated independently, as typically shown in sign language dictionaries. In natural continuous signing, signs often appear differently from their citation form due to coarticulation, speed, regional variation, and expressive modification. This discrepancy between citation form and contextual production poses challenges for sign language learners trying to match unfamiliar signs to dictionary entries, and for sign recognition technology that must bridge the gap between isolated training data and continuous signing.