Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
14:34
A Bilingual Computational Workflow for Identifying Potential PLK1 Inhibitors in American Sign Language and English
Published on: April 3, 2026
Sign Lowering and Phonetic Reduction in American Sign Language
Martha E Tyrone1, Claude E Mauk
1Haskins Laboratories, 300 George Street, Suite 900, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511 USA.
Journal of Phonetics
|July 8, 2010
Summary
Sign lowering, a phonetic reduction in American Sign Language (ASL), was studied in detail. This research confirms sign lowering occurs and is influenced by factors like signing rate and context, similar to speech patterns.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Phonetics
- Sign Language Studies
Background:
- Phonetic reduction is a natural process in language production, leading to less articulated forms.
- In American Sign Language (ASL), this reduction can manifest as sign lowering, where signs are produced at a lower location than their citation forms.
- While sign lowering has been observed, detailed phonetic analysis has been limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sign lowering in American Sign Language (ASL) with phonetic detail.
- To analyze the influence of phonetic context and signing rate on sign lowering.
- To explore variations in sign production that may relate to signing style.
Main Methods:
- Optoelectronic motion capture was used to record tokens of the sign WONDER.
- Six native ASL signers participated in the study.
- Data were collected across two phonetic contexts and three signing rates.
Main Results:
- All participants exhibited sign lowering.
- Sign lowering was influenced by the manipulated factors: production rate, phonetic context, and utterance position.
- Phonetic factors affecting speech production also impacted ASL sign production.
Conclusions:
- Sign lowering is a consistent feature of ASL production under varying conditions.
- Factors such as signing rate and context significantly affect sign articulation.
- Observed variations in sign production may indicate differences in signing style, akin to accent in spoken language.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Sign Convention
When analyzing a beam subjected to various loads, it is crucial to understand the internal forces and moments generated within the structure. These internal forces can be broadly classified into normal forces, shear forces, and bending moments. To determine these forces and moments, we use the method of sections and apply a specific sign convention based on their direction and the side of the section being analyzed.
The normal force acts perpendicular to the beam's cross-section and can cause...
The normal force acts perpendicular to the beam's cross-section and can cause...
01:10Introduction to the Sign Test
The sign test is an important tool in nonparametric statistics, offering a straightforward yet effective method for analyzing matched pairs, nominal data, or hypotheses concerning the median of a population. It transforms data points into positive or negative signs, avoiding the need for assumptions about data distribution and instead focusing on the direction of change. It is particularly valuable when data does not conform to the normal distribution requirements of many parametric tests. For...
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
Non-verbal communication extends beyond gestures and facial expressions to include vocal elements known as paralanguage. Paralanguage consists of non-verbal vocal cues such as pitch, loudness, speech rate, pauses, and non-verbal vocalizations like laughter, sighs, and moans. These elements not only accompany speech but also provide critical emotional and contextual information.The Role of Paralanguage in CommunicationParalanguage adds depth to spoken language by conveying emotions and...
01:30Therapeutic Communication
Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
01:12Sign Test for Nominal Data
The sign test is a nonparametric method used to evaluate hypotheses about the median of a single sample or to compare the medians of two related samples. The sign test is particularly useful when dealing with nominal data, which includes distinct categories without an inherent order, such as names, labels, and preferences. Nominal data restricts statistical analysis to evaluating population proportions rather than mean or median values that require continuous data.
For example, consider a...
For example, consider a...