Operationalization and measurement of sign language

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Lessons to be Learned from Bimodal Bilingualism

This article presents a selective overview of topics related to the language experience of early bimodal bilinguals - individuals who are raised from an early age using two languages from two different modalities, typically spoken (or written) and signed. We show that deaf and hearing bimodal bilinguals may display patterns of bilingualism that are similar to unimodal bilinguals in some ways, such as the use of both languages in a single situation or even a single utterance. Nevertheless, there are also differences between bimodal and unimodal bilinguals, and differences among different subgroups of bimodal bilinguals, given large variation in relative access to the dominant and minority language(s) in their environment and their differential experiences in schooling and interactions with potential interlocutors. Moreover, we review studies discussing potential advantages of the sign modality and advantages of bilingualism in this population. We hope to highlight the importance of considering children’s overall language experience, including the age(s) at which they are exposed to each of their languages, the richness of their experiences with each of the languages, and the ways that the language-learning experience may contribute to the child’s linguistic and cognitive development

Imperativos análogos a raízes infinitivas: evidência das línguas de sinais americana e brasileira

In this paper, we investigate the hypothesis put forward by Salustri and Hyams (2003, 2006), that (in some languages) imperatives function as an analogue to root infinitives, being used to express irrealis meanings in languages which typically do not show a significant root infinitive stage.We investigate this hypothesis by looking at longitudinal production data from American Sign Language (ASL) and Brazilian Sign Language (LSB), languages in which there are two verb types – only one of which is predicted to behave like Italian in showing an imperative analogue. Our results provide support for the Imperative Analogue Hypothesis. In addition, our results provide support for the analysis of sentences with these verb types proposed by Quadros (1999) on the basis of adult data.Neste artigo, investigamos a hipótese de Salustri e Hyams (2003, 2006) de que (em algumas línguas) há imperativos que funcionam como raízes infinitivas usados para expressar significado de irrealis. As línguas em que isso acontece, não apresentam o estágio de raízes infinitivas. Nós investigamos esta hipótese a partir da produção de duas línguas de sinais coletadas longitudinalmente em crianças surdas adquirindo a língua de sinais americana (ASL) e a língua de sinais brasileira (LSB). Nessas línguas, há dois tipos de verbos – um dos quais prediz a realização de imperativos análogos. Os resultados sustentam a hipótese do imperativo análogo de Salustri e Hyams e, além disso, é mais uma evidência para a proposta de Quadros (1999) baseada em dados de adultos

Calculating Frequency of Occurrence of ASL handshapes

Here we discuss an investigation of handshape markedness based on frequency of occurrence in an ASLdatabase. Using a database of the most frequently used signs in a corpus of child language and otherearly-acquired signs we examined the handshapes of approximately 1000 signs by using two annotationsystems, BTS and Stokoe annotation. Results indicate that the distribution of handshape use on thedominant and non-dominant hands is consistent with the predictions set forth by previous researchersin their examinations of handshape markedness. Our findings are also consistent with investigationshandshape frequency in other sign languages, suggesting some cross-linguistic comparability in handshapemarkedness