Rozwój kompetencji fonologicznych dzieci nabywających języki migowe

Abstract

Deaf and hearing children of deaf parents acquire naturally sign language at the levels of phonology, morphology, syntax and pragmatics. In this article we describe the process of children’s sign development at the level of phonology. On the basis of the sign language structure theory of W. Stokoe, a pioneer researcher of sign linguistics, we distinguish three parameters acquired by children: location (place of articulation), hand configuration (shape of the hand) and movement (hand action). The acquisition of sign phonology is proceed according the rules, whose existence are approved by proper use of parameters and errors at the certain level of sign phonology development. In sign phonology acquisition we can find nonmarked parameters, which are earlier produced by children, distinct, less complex and most frequently occurring in adults utterances; and marked parameters which appear later in child development.