Handling Sign Language Data: The Impact of Modality

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Psycholinguistics
• Sign Language Studies

Background:

• Natural languages exist in spoken and signed modalities.
• While spoken language modality's impact on linguistic theory is well-studied, its effect on data collection and experimental research remains underexplored.
• Sign language research faces unique hurdles due to socio-linguistic factors and modality-specific properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and discuss specific challenges in eliciting judgment data and conducting experimental studies on sign languages.
• To explore how the visual-gestural modality, socio-linguistic status, and methodological aspects influence sign language research.
• To highlight the need for modality-specific approaches in empirical research on sign languages.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of challenges in sign language data elicitation.
• Review of existing literature on sign language research methodologies.
• Discussion of the interplay between theoretical linguistics and experimental psycholinguistics in sign language studies.

Main Results:

• Sign language research faces distinct challenges including Deaf community status, signer variability, social status of sign languages, visual-gestural modality properties, data handling, and linguistic features.
• Some challenges are shared with spoken languages, but many are specific to the visual-gestural modality.
• A combination of theoretical and experimental approaches offers a more comprehensive understanding of sign languages and general linguistic structures.

Conclusions:

• Empirical research on sign languages requires addressing a unique set of modality-specific challenges.
• Integrating theoretical insights with experimental findings is essential for advancing sign language linguistics.
• This research contributes to a better understanding of sign languages and broader linguistic principles.