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Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

392
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.
392
Language Development01:22

Language Development

447
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...
447
Language01:16

Language

423
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
423
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

440
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
440
Sign Test for Nominal Data01:12

Sign Test for Nominal Data

152
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...
152
Introduction to the Sign Test01:10

Introduction to the Sign Test

990
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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm
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Typological Comparisons and Considerations: Phonological and Morphological Evidence from Sign Language Creation.

Diane Brentari1, Rabia Ergin2, Ann Senghas3

  • 1Department of Linguistics, and the co-director of the Center for Gesture, Sign, and Language at the University of Chicago.

Sign Language Studies
|August 18, 2025
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Summary

This study compares Central Taurus Sign Language and Nicaraguan Sign Language, revealing significant variation influenced by community factors. Nicaraguan Sign Language shows more diversity, highlighting the evolution from homesigns to a structured language.

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Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Sign Language Studies
  • Sociolinguistics

Background:

  • Comparing emerging sign languages provides insights into language evolution.
  • Central Taurus Sign Language (CTSL) and Nicaraguan Sign Language (LSN) are approximately 50 years old.
  • Understanding variation drivers in sign languages is crucial for linguistic typology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare phonological and information packaging aspects of CTSL and LSN.
  • To analyze variation patterns across different signer cohorts within each language.
  • To identify sociodemographic factors influencing sign language emergence and development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of handshape inventories for phonological complexity.
  • Examination of complex predicates focusing on agency and number.
  • Comparative analysis of data from three CTSL and three LSN signer groups.

Main Results:

  • Significant variation observed in both phonology and information packaging across languages and cohorts.
  • Nicaraguan Sign Language (LSN) exhibited greater variation than Central Taurus Sign Language (CTSL).
  • LSN variation illustrates a developmental trajectory from homesigns to a formalized language.

Conclusions:

  • Community size, signer contact, and sociocultural factors shape sign language variation.
  • Existing models for describing sign language communities require refinement.
  • Further comparative research on new sign languages is essential for understanding language evolution.