Increased interest has begun to be shown toward manual sign as an augmentative communication mode for language-impaired individuals. Unfortunately, relatively less attention has been given to delineating psycholinguistic variables which might affect sign learning. One attribute shown to facilitate sign learning is the perceived translucency (relatedness) between sign and gloss. The current project was an attempt to obtain translucency ratings for a large sample of manual signs as well as a comparison of the relative translucency of nouns to verbs.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Brown, R.Why are signed languages easier to learn than spoken languages?Keynote address presented at the National Symposium on Sign Language Research and Teaching, Chicago, 1977 .
2.
Karlin, G.R., & Lloyd, L.L.Considerations in the planning of communication intervention : II. Manual sign and gestural systems for representing the lexicon. Unpublished manuscript, Pursue University, 1982.
3.
Luftig, R.L.Translucency of sign and concreteness of referent in sign learning of mentally retarded students. Manuscript submitted to American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1982.
4.
Knudson, C.Rate of enactive vs. iconic manual sign acquisition by retarded learners . Unpublished master's thesis, University of Kansas, 1980.
5.
Begg, I., & Robertson, R.Imagery and long-term retention. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1973, 12, 689-700.
6.
Bellugi, U., & Klima, E.Two faces of sign: Iconic and abstract. In S. Harmad, H. Steklis, & J. Lancaster (Eds.), The origins and evaluation of language and speech. New York: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1976.
7.
Bonvillian, F.D., & Nelson, K.E.Development of sign language in autistic children and other handicapped individuals . In P. Siple (Ed.), Understanding language through sign language research. New York: Academic Press, 1976.
8.
Bornstein, H., Hamilton K., Saulnier, K. & Roy, H.The signed English dictionary. Washington, D.C.Gallaudet College Press, 1975.
9.
Bull, B., & Wittrock, M.C.Imagery in the language of verbal definitions . British Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1973, 43, 289-293.
10.
Conlin, D., & Paivio, A.The associative learning of the deaf: The effects of word imagery and signability. Memory and Cognition, 1975, 3, 335-340.
11.
Fristoe, M., & Lloyd, L.L.Effects on learning of instructed use of manual signs. ASHA , 1979a, 21, 792.
12.
Fristoe, M., & Lloyd, L.L.Nonspeech communication. In N.R. Ellis (Ed.), Handbook of mental deficiency: Psychological theory and research (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1979b.
13.
Fristoe, M., & Lloyd, L.L.Planning an initial expressive sign lexicon for persons with severe communication impairment. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders , 1980, 45, 170-180.
14.
Fulwiler, R.L., & Fouts, R.S.Acquisition of American Sign Language by a non-communicating autistic child . Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1976, 6, 43-51.
15.
Griffith, P.L., & Robinson, J.H.Influence of iconicity and phonological similarity on sign learning by mentally retarded children. American Journal of MentalDeficiency, 1980, 85, 291-298.
16.
Harrell, M., Bowers, J.W., & Bacal, J.P.Another stab at meaning: Concreteness, iconicity, and conventionality . Speech Monographs, 1973, 40, 199-207.
17.
Hoemann, H.W.The transparency of meaning of sign language gestures. Sign Language Studies, 1975, 7, 151-161.
18.
Hoemann, H.W., & Hoemann, S.A.Sign language flash cards. Silver Spring, MD: National Association for the Deaf, 1975.
19.
Kahn, J.V.A comparison of sign and verbal language training with nonverbal retarded children. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 1981, 24, 113-119.
20.
Kiernan, C. Alternatives to speech: A review of research on manual and other forms of communication with the mentally handicapped and other noncommunication populations. British Journal of Mental Subnormality, 1977, 23, 6-28.
21.
Konstantareas, M.M., Oxman, J., & Webster, C.D.Simultaneous communication with autistic and other severely dysfunctional nonverbal children. Journal of Communication Disorders, 1977, 10, 267-282.
22.
Lahey, M., & Bloom, L.Planning a first lexicon: Which words to teach first. Journal Speech and Hearing Disorders, 1977, 42, 340-349.
23.
Lippman, M.Z.Enactive imagery in paired-associate learning. Memory and Cognition, 1974, 2, 385-390.
24.
Luftig, R.L.Variables influencing the learnability of individual signs and sign lexicons : Psycholinguistic and production considerations. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, in press.
25.
Luftig, R.L.Increasing probability of sign language learning by severely mentally retarded individuals: A discussion of learner, sign production, and linguistic variables . Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 1982, 3, 81-97.
26.
Luftig, R.L., Gauthier, R.A., Freeman, S.A., & Lloyd, L.L.Modality preference and facilitation of learning using mixed and pure sign, oral and graphic inputs. Sign Language Studies, 1980, 28, 255-266.
27.
Luftig, R.L., & Lloyd, L.L.Manual sign translucency and referential concreteness in the learning of signs . Sign Language Studies, 1981, 30, 49-60.
28.
Luftig, R.L., Lloyd, L.L., & Page, J.L.Ratings of sign translucency and gloss concreteness of two grammatical classes of manual sign. Sign Language Studies, in press.
29.
O'Rourke, T.J.A basic course in manual communication. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, 1973.
30.
Paivio, A.Imagery and verbal processes (2nd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston , 1980.
31.
Paivio, A., Yuille, J.C., & Madigan, S.Concreteness, imagery, and meaningfulness values for 925 nouns. Journal of Experimental Psychology Monographs, 1968 , 76 (1, pt. 2).
32.
Siple, P., Fischer, S.D., & Bellugi, U.Memory for nonsemantic attributes of American Sign Language. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1977 , 16, 561-574.
33.
Stokoe, W.C., Casterline, D.C. & Croneberg, C.G.A dictionary of American Sign Language on linguistic principles. Silver Spring, MD: Lingtok Press, 1976.
34.
Winer, B.J.Statistical principles in experimental design. New York : McGraw-Hill, 1971.
