This work is designed to extend our knowledge of the development of phonological organization in American Sign Language (ASL) through work in two areas.
The first aim i s to trace the development of the syllable in early sign phonology in order to improve our understanding of phonological structure in a visual language.
The second aim i s to trace the emergence of independent features analogous to phonemes in spoken languages. Data will come from longitudinal and cross-sectional samples of deaf children who are learning ASL as a native language as they begin to produce their first signs. Research on visual language will establish universals across language that differ in modality and should lead to a better understanding of how natural visual languages is acquired and the nature of universal phonology without modality biases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29DC000952-06
Application #
2126150
Study Section
Sensory Disorders and Language Study Section (CMS)
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
1996-01-31
Budget Start
1995-02-01
Budget End
1996-01-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Education
DUNS #
555456995
City
Lincoln
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68588