Effects of iconicity, motoric complexity, and linguistic function on sign acquisition in severe aphasia

The influence of three features of manual signs (iconicity, motoric complexity, linguistic function) on their successful acquisition by aphasic subjects was investigated. 12 severe chronic aphasic subjects were presented 37 signs in a training program for the production of manual signs. Analysis indicates that the three signs features affected the successful acquisition of signs. As a group the subjects acquired a larger percentage of high and medium iconic than of low iconic signs; a larger percentage of low and medium motorically complex signs than high; and a larger percentage of verb than noun or adjective signs. The implications of these findings with regard to selecting a manual sign vocabulary for training are discussed.