Acquisition of a signed phonological system by hearing adults : the role of sign structure and iconcity
The phonological system of a sign language comprises meaningless sub-lexical units that define the structure of a sign. A number of studies have examined how learners of a sign language as a first language (L1) acquire these components. However, little is understood about the mechanism by which hearing adults develop visual phonological categories when learning a sign language as a second language (L2). Developmental studies have shown that sign complexity and iconicity, the clear mapping between the form of a sign and its referent, shape in different ways the order of emergence of a visual phonology. The aim of the present dissertation was to investigate how these two factors affect the development of a visual phonology in hearing adults learning a sign language as L2. The empirical data gathered in this dissertation confirms that sign structure and iconicity are important factors that determine L2 phonological development. Non-signers perform better at discriminating the contrastive features of phonologically simple signs than signs with multiple elements. Handshape was the parameter most difficult to learn, followed by movement, then orientation and finally location which is the same order of acquisition
Ortega-Delgado, G.
Acquisition of a signed phonological system by hearing adults : the role of sign structure and iconcity. The phonological system of a sign language comprises meaningless sub-lexical units that define the structure of a sign. A number of studies have examined how learners of a sign language as a first language (L1) acquire these components. However, little is understood about the mechanism by which hearing adults develop visual phonological categories when learning a sign language as a second language (L2). Developmental studies have shown that sign complexity and iconicity, the clear mapping between the form of a sign and its referent, shape in different ways the order of emergence of a visual phonology. The aim of the present dissertation was to investigate how these two factors affect the development of a visual phonology in hearing adults learning a sign language as L2. The empirical data gathered in this dissertation confirms that sign structure and iconicity are important factors that determine L2 phonological development. Non-signers perform better at discriminating the contrastive features of phonologically simple signs than signs with multiple elements. Handshape was the parameter most difficult to learn, followed by movement, then orientation and finally location which is the same order of acquisition
acquisition sign phonological_system hear adult role sign structure phonological_system sign_language comprise meaningless sub lexical unit define structure sign number study examine learner sign_language first_language acquire component however_little understood mechanism hearing adult develop visual phonological category learn sign_language second_language developmental study_show sign complexity clear mapping form sign referent shape different_way order emergence visual phonology aim_present investigate factor_affect development visual phonology hear adult learn sign_language empirical_data gather confirms sign structure important_factor determine phonological_development non perform good discriminate contrastive feature phonologically simple sign sign multiple element parameter difficult learn follow movement orientation finally location order acquisition