Structure and Acquisition of Signed and Spoken Languages

描述（由申请人提供）：人类语言研究中的许多基本问题-早期经验的作用，“关键时期”的概念，以及语言习得中输入与内部倾向的贡献-很难调查，因为大多数儿童都是，幸运的是，从出生开始就接触到丰富，流利的输入。然而，聋哑儿童往往通过大大减少的语言输入来获得手语。我们的研究调查了他们在这方面做得有多好，以及减少输入后出现的语言如何随着时间的推移而发展和变化。这些问题具有重要的理论意义，也是决定聋儿生活的关键。我们建议继续三条工作线。其中一个研究方向是研究年轻手语的发展，这些手语的语法是从减少的输入中获得的，因此正在建立和扩展。在一个环境中，我们正在观察孤立的聋哑儿童的“家庭标志”系统。在第二个场景中，我们正在研究一种家庭手语，这种手语在一个偏远的渔村上已经流传了几代人。第二条研究路线考察了美国手语的早期语言结构，以及这种语言在早期几代手语者中的扩展方式。第三类研究在实验室范式中调查输入和语言发展的问题，使用微型语言学习技术与听力成人和儿童一起调查当输入减少或改变时语言是如何获得和改变的。本研究将有助于我们理解语言习得中输入与结果的关系，以及儿童习得母语的机制。此外，它将有助于决定有关早期语言接触，无论是签署或口语，在聋人教育和家长咨询。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Many fundamental issues in the study of human language-the role of early experience, the concept of a "critical period," and the contributions of input versus internal predispositions in language acquisition-are difficult to investigate because most children are, fortunately, exposed to rich, fluent input to their primary language from birth. However, deaf children often acquire signed languages from greatly reduced linguistic input. Our research investigates how well they do this, and how languages that emerge from reduced input develop and change over time. These questions are theoretically significant and also crucial for decisions in the lives of deaf children. We propose to continue 3 lines of work. One line of research studies the development of young sign languages, whose grammars are being built and expanded as they are acquired from reduced input. In one setting we are observing 'home sign' systems of isolated deaf children. In a second setting we are studying a family sign language that has been used and handed down across several generations on a remote fishing island. A second line of research examines the early linguistic structure of American Sign Language and the way the language expanded as it passed through early generations of signers. A third line of research investigates the questions of input and language development in a laboratory paradigm, using a miniature language learning technique with hearing adults and children to investigate how languages are acquired and changed when input is reduced or altered. This research will contribute to our understanding of the relation between input and outcome in language acquisition, and of the mechanisms by which children acquire their native languages. In addition, it will contribute to decisions regarding early language exposure, whether signed or spoken, in deaf education and parent counseling.