Categorical versus gradient properties of handling handshapes in British Sign Language (BSL) : evidence from handling handshape perception and production by deaf BSL signers and hearing speakers
Sign languages include partially lexicalised signs (known as depicting constructions, DCs) that have been argued to blend linguistic and non-linguistic components, although it is unclear what these components are. To describe object handling, signers produce handshapes that represent how the hands shape for handling, but it has not yet been fully established whether the continuous object size is described by discrete handshapes in British Sign Language (BSL). The thesis examines whether experience with sign language influences perception and comprehension of BSL handling handshapes. In the first study, categorical perception (CP), using the identification and ABX discrimination tasks, is examined for handling handshapes (HHs) in BSL. The experiments reveal that adult deaf BSL signers and hearing non-signers perceive continuous HHs categorically while remaining perceptive to gradient aperture changes. Deaf BSL signers were more accurate than hearing non-signers when discriminating between handshape stimuli; this is likely due to visual language experience. However, reaction times showed no processing advantage suggesting that categorisation of BSL HHs has a general, visual-perceptual rather than linguistic
Sevcikova, Z.
Categorical versus gradient properties of handling handshapes in British Sign Language (BSL) : evidence from handling handshape perception and production by deaf BSL signers and hearing speakers. Sign languages include partially lexicalised signs (known as depicting constructions, DCs) that have been argued to blend linguistic and non-linguistic components, although it is unclear what these components are. To describe object handling, signers produce handshapes that represent how the hands shape for handling, but it has not yet been fully established whether the continuous object size is described by discrete handshapes in British Sign Language (BSL). The thesis examines whether experience with sign language influences perception and comprehension of BSL handling handshapes. In the first study, categorical perception (CP), using the identification and ABX discrimination tasks, is examined for handling handshapes (HHs) in BSL. The experiments reveal that adult deaf BSL signers and hearing non-signers perceive continuous HHs categorically while remaining perceptive to gradient aperture changes. Deaf BSL signers were more accurate than hearing non-signers when discriminating between handshape stimuli; this is likely due to visual language experience. However, reaction times showed no processing advantage suggesting that categorisation of BSL HHs has a general, visual-perceptual rather than linguistic
categorical versus gradient property handle british_sign_language_bsl evidence handle perception_production deaf bsl signer hear speaker sign languages include partially sign know depict construction argue blend linguistic non_linguistic component although unclear component describe object handling signer produce represent hand shape handling yet_fully establish_whether continuous object size describe discrete british_sign_language_bsl examines whether experience sign_language influence perception comprehension bsl handle first study categorical perception use identification discrimination task examine handle bsl reveal adult deaf bsl signer hear non perceive continuous categorically remain perceptive gradient change deaf bsl signer accurate hear non discriminate stimulus likely due visual language experience however reaction_time show processing advantage suggest categorisation bsl general visual perceptual rather linguistic