This　paper　presents　a　Chinese　Sign　Language　Markup　Language　(CSLML),　which　is　developed　for　expressive　Chinese　sign　language　synthesis　by　introducing　features　and　structure　of　sign　language　prosody.　The　tags　of　CSLML　are　divided　into　two　levels:　function　level　and　phonetic　level.　Function　level　provides　abstract　information　about　signed　content　and　prosody,　so　it　facilitates　text　annotating　for　text-driven　automatic　synthetic　system　and　adapts　to　diversified　synthetic　methods,　such　as　motion　capture　animation　or　image-based　synthesis,　Which　may　not　be　good　at　processing　lower-level　information.　Phonetic　level　provides　detailed　behavioral　manners　based　on　phonetics　and　phonology　to　interpret　the　meaning　in　function　level.　It　facilitates　creation　and　edit　of　any　motions.　The　two　levels　co-exist　in　CSLML　documents　and　high-level　description　can　be　mapped　into　corresponding　low-level　behavior　to　provide　one-to-many　variability　and　expression　of　synthesis.　Therefore,　We　also　introduce　a　framework　for　this　mapping　processing　mid　exhibit　results　of　our　animated　prototype　system　based　on　this　framework.　Copyright　(C)　2009　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.