The hands and mouth do not always slip together in British sign language: dissociating articulatory channels in the lexicon

Psychological Science
David P VinsonGabriella Vigliocco

Abstract

In contrast to the single-articulatory system of spoken languages, sign languages employ multiple articulators, including the hands and the mouth. We asked whether manual components and mouthing patterns of lexical signs share a semantic representation, and whether their relationship is affected by the differing language experience of deaf and hearing native signers. We used picture-naming tasks and word-translation tasks to assess whether the same semantic effects occur in manual production and mouthing production. Semantic errors on the hands were more common in the English-translation task than in the picture-naming task, but errors in mouthing patterns showed a different trend. We conclude that mouthing is represented and accessed through a largely separable channel, rather than being bundled with manual components in the sign lexicon. Results were comparable for deaf and hearing signers; differences in language experience did not play a role. These results provide novel insight into coordinating different modalities in language production.

References

Mar 1, 1989·Journal of Speech and Hearing Research·V L Hanson, N S McGarr
Aug 18, 2000·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·A Sterne, U Goswami
Apr 17, 2001·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·W J LeveltA S Meyer
Aug 3, 2001·Cognition·M F DamianW J Levelt
Jul 12, 2005·Neuropsychologia·Paolo Bernardis, Maurizio Gentilucci
Dec 1, 2007·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Daan HermansLudo Verhoeven
Feb 21, 2008·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Cheryl M CapekRuth Campbell
Dec 17, 2008·Bilingualism : Language and Cognition·Karen EmmoreyTamar H Gollan
Jul 18, 2009·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Peter F de JongEva Marinus
Nov 1, 2005·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Catherine Transler, Pieter Reitsma

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 18, 2012·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Karen EmmoreyTamar H Gollan
Jun 28, 2016·Bilingualism : Language and Cognition·Bencie Woll, Mairéad Macsweeney
Jan 15, 2015·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Eduardo NavarreteFrancesca Peressotti
Mar 19, 2015·PloS One·Matthew L HallRachel I Mayberry
Mar 1, 2016·Bilingualism : Language and Cognition·Karen EmmoreyTamar H Gollan
Apr 20, 2016·Language and Speech·Trevor JohnstonAdam Schembri
Feb 13, 2021·Behavior Research Methods·Patrick C TrettenbreinEmiliano Zaccarella

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.