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Tools for language: patterned iconicity in sign language nouns and verbs
Carol Padden1, So-One Hwang, Ryan Lepic
1Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego.
Topics in Cognitive Science
|November 20, 2014
Summary
American Sign Language (ASL) signers and hearing nonsigners use similar iconic strategies when representing tools. Both groups adapt their gestures to distinguish between objects and actions, suggesting a shared cognitive basis.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
- Psychology
Background:
- Iconicity in sign languages and gestures offers insights into language evolution.
- Two main iconic strategies, handling and instrument, are used to represent tool use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare iconic strategies in American Sign Language (ASL) and spontaneous gestures of hearing nonsigners.
- To investigate how visual representations of tools and actions influence strategy selection.
Main Methods:
- Participants (ASL signers and hearing nonsigners) were presented with pictures and videos of tools and tool-use actions.
- Their spontaneous gestures and lexical signs were analyzed for the use of handling and instrument strategies.
Main Results:
- Hearing nonsigners predominantly used the handling strategy but shifted based on stimuli (pictures vs. actions).
- ASL signers favored the instrument strategy for naming tools but used more handling strategies when describing tool use in action.
Conclusions:
- Both signers and nonsigners demonstrate cognitive flexibility in strategy use, differentiating objects from actions.
- ASL utilizes the handling/instrument distinction grammatically, distinguishing between nouns and verbs related to tool use.
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