Type of iconicity matters: bias for action-based signs in sign language acquisition

Gerardo Ortega, Beyza Sumer, Asli Ozyurek

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Abstract

Early studies investigating sign language acquisition claimed that signs whose structures are motivated by the form of their referent (iconic) are not favoured in language development. However, recent work has shown that the first signs in deaf children’s lexicon are iconic. In this paper we go a step further and ask whether different types of iconicity modulate learning sign-referent links. Results from a picture description task indicate that children and adults used signs with two possible variants differentially. While children signing to adults favoured variants that map onto actions associated with a referent (action signs), adults signing to another adult produced variants that map onto objects’ perceptual features (perceptual signs). Parents interacting with children used more action variants than signers in adult-adult interactions. These results are in line with claims that language development is tightly linked to motor experience and that iconicity can be a communicative strategy in parental input.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (CogSci 2014)
EditorsP. Bello, M. Guarini, M. McShane, B. Scassellati
Place of PublicationAustin, Texas
PublisherCognitive Science Society
Pages1114-1119
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)978-0-9911967-0-8
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Event36th Annual Cognitive Science Conference - Quebec City, Canada
Duration: 23 Jul 201426 Jul 2014

Publication series

NameCognitive Science Society. Annual Conference. Proceedings
Volume36
ISSN (Print)1069-7977

Conference

Conference36th Annual Cognitive Science Conference
Abbreviated titleCOGSCI 2014
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityQuebec City
Period23/07/1426/07/14

Keywords

  • Sign Language
  • Language Development
  • Iconicity in language
  • acquisition
  • iconicity
  • action
  • perception
  • sound-symbolism

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