Phonetics of sign location in ASL: Comments on papers by Russell, Wilkinson, & Janzen and by Grosvald & Corina

Abstract

In sign language research, there have been far fewer studies of the physical structure of signed language – or sign phonetics – than studies of the more traditional areas of linguistics, such as syntax or morphology. Research on signed language emerged much more recently than speech research, and in particular, it emerged at a time when the field of linguistics emphasized theory over empiricism. In addition, until a few decades ago, it was widely assumed by linguists as well as nonlinguists that signed languages were not on a par with spoken languages in terms of grammar or vocabulary. As a result, early sign language researchers continually had to demonstrate that signed languages were, in fact, languages, and c onsequently their research emphasized the similarities between signed and spoken languages over the modalities’ differences. In all likelihood, these two factors both had the effect of limiting researchers’ interest in phonetic analyses of signed languages. The studies by Russell, Wilkinson and Janzen (2011) and by Grosvald and C orina (this issue) reflect a growing interest in sign phonetics, and an expansion in the availability of tools and methods for sign phonetics research. More specifically, there has been increased interest recently in the phonetics of signs produced in context, as opposed to citation forms of signs or signs produced in isolation. Several studies in the last decade or so have examined how signs are influenced by factors such as signing rate, phonetic environment, phrase position, and the distance from the signer to the interlocutor(s) (Cheek 2001, Mauk 2003, Crasborn 2001, Mauk & Tyrone 2008, Quinto-Pozos et al. 2009). Each of these areas raises questions that are relevant to the interface between phonetics and phonology in signed language. Like spoken languages, signed languages are made up of meaningless s ublexical elements that can be combined in different ways to form lexical items. Stokoe identified three phonological parameters that can differentiate signs in American Sign Language (ASL): handshape, movement and location (Stokoe 1960). Handshape describes the configuration of the hands as a sign is produced. Movement describes how the hands and arms move during a sign. Location describes where the hands are located during production of a sign. Battison (1978) later added hand