Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
06:07
Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm
Published on: May 15, 2019
8.3K
Lexical variation and change in british sign language
Rose Stamp1, Adam Schembri2, Jordan Fenlon1
1Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL), University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|April 25, 2014
Summary
Younger British Sign Language (BSL) users show less regional variation in signs for colours, countries, and places, indicating language levelling. This trend is faster in some deaf community subgroups.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Sociolinguistics
- Corpus Linguistics
Background:
- Previous research indicated potential language levelling in British Sign Language (BSL) numeral signs among younger users.
- Regional variation is a key feature of sign language, reflecting diverse community histories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional lexical variation in British Sign Language (BSL) across a broader range of signs.
- To identify factors influencing lexical variation and potential language levelling in BSL.
Main Methods:
- A corpus-based study was conducted using data from the BSL Corpus Project.
- Lexical variants for colours, countries, numbers, and UK placenames were elicited from signers.
Main Results:
- Age, school location, and language background were significant predictors of lexical variation.
- Younger signers exhibited a more levelled (less regionally distinct) variety of BSL signs.
- The rate of change towards levelling varied across different subgroups within the deaf community, notably being faster in signers from hearing families.
- Regional differences in signs were observed for some UK city names, with signers from outside the region using distinct variants.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests ongoing language levelling in British Sign Language (BSL), particularly among younger signers.
- Sociolinguistic factors like age and family background significantly impact BSL's regional lexical diversity.
- The findings highlight the dynamic nature of BSL and the influence of community structures on its evolution.
More Related Videos
14:34A Bilingual Computational Workflow for Identifying Potential PLK1 Inhibitors in American Sign Language and English
Published on: April 3, 2026
300
09:09Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody
Published on: September 27, 2024
1.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:30Sign Convention
3.8K
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...
The normal force acts perpendicular to the beam's cross-section and can...
3.8K
01:22Language Development
1.1K
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...
1.1K
01:24Components of Language
840
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
840
01:14What is Variation?
12.9K
Apart from the measures of central tendency, distribution, outliers, and the changing characteristics of data with time, an important characteristic of any data set is its variation or spread. In some data sets, the data values are concentrated closely near the mean; in others, the data values are more widely spread out from the mean.
The range, standard deviation, standard error, and variance are the different measures of variation.
Range: The range is the difference between its maximum and...
The range, standard deviation, standard error, and variance are the different measures of variation.
Range: The range is the difference between its maximum and...
12.9K
01:10Introduction to the Sign Test
1.3K
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...
1.3K
01:28Lateralization
1.3K
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
1.3K