DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phonetics and Phonology of Handshape in American Sign Language

[9820423]虽然对口语中语音学（梯度音模式）和音位学（分类音模式）之间的区别的研究增加了我们对语言模式的理解，但通过研究手语中的这种区别可以获得进一步的理解。目前的提案概述了一个研究项目，该项目将探讨美国手语（ASL）中手部形状变化的梯度模式和分类模式之间的区别。通过一系列的产生和感知实验，研究人员将量化手形协同发音（手势的梯度重叠）和同化（分类特征扩散）在美国手语中存在的程度。生产实验将产生美国手语手语手语手语手语手语手语手语手语手势在不同语言环境下的动态数据。这些数据将进行反复测量方差分析（ANOVA’s），以确定在美国手语中手部形状变化的程度以及显著影响这种变化的因素。还将分析手势形状与手势动作的时间相关性，以确定数据是否最好地被理解为同化过程的产物或协同发音过程的产物。最后，生产数据将用于创建感知实验的刺激。母语和接近母语的手语使用者将执行强制选择识别任务。通过感知实验，研究人员将能够确定手形中和发生的程度，从而获得手形变化模式是否应归类为同化或协同衔接的证据。在言语和手势的发音模式中发现的相似性可以用来扩展手势重叠和特征传播的理论，超越口头-听觉模态，进入手-视觉模态，提供更广泛的协同发音和同化理论。符号和言语产生的相似性表明，诸如协同发音之类的现象并不依赖于言语模块的可用性。相反，手势和言语产生中的共性可能反映了运动控制的一般原则，例如运动经济性，这是所有运动系统所共有的。

9820423MeierWhile examinations of the distinction between phonetics (gradient sound patterns) and phonology (categorical sound patterns) in spoken languages have increased our understanding of linguistic patterns, further understanding can be gained by examining this distinction in sign language. The current proposal outlines a program of research that will probe the distinction between gradient and categorical patterns of handshape variation in American Sign Language (ASL).Through a series of production and perception experiments, the researchers will quantify the degree to which handshape coarticulation (gradient overlap of gestures) and assimilation (categorical feature spreading) are present in ASL. The production experiments will yield kinematic data on ASL handshapes as produced in different linguistic environments by native ASL signers. These data will be subjected to repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA's) to determine the extent to which handshape variation occurs in ASL and the factors that significantly affect such variation. The temporal correlation of the handshape gesture with respect to the movement gesture of a sign will also be analyzed to determine whether the data are best understood as the product of an assimilatory or a coarticulatory process. Finally, the production data will be used to create the stimuli for the perception experiments. Native and near native signers of ASL will be perform forced-choice identification tasks. Through the perception experiments the researchers will be able to determine the extent to which handshape neutralization occurs, thus gaining evidence as to whether the handshape variation patterns should be classified as assimilation or coarticulation.Similarities found in the articulatory patterns of speech and sign can be used to extend theories of gestural overlap and feature spreading beyond the oral-audio modality and into the manual-visual modality, providing a broader theory of coarticulation and assimilation. Similarities in the production of sign and speech suggest that phenomenon such as coarticulation do not depend on the availability of a speech module. Instead commonalities in the production of sign and speech may reflect general principles of motor control, such as motor economy, that are common to all motor systems.