Bimodal Code-switching: Simultaneously speaking and signing

What is it about?

In this article, the authors combine the insights from two linguistic sub disciplines: language contact and sign language linguistics. After a short introduction about some possible outcomes of language contact the choice for code switching and an analysis along the lines of Myers-Scotton's Matrix Language model is made. First, the characteristics of bimodal language contact are discussed, and then the dataset is presented: a bimodal corpus by a deaf mother and her hearing son Jonas at the ages of approximately 3;0 and 6;0. Analyses show that a large part of the utterances is code blended, this means simultaneously signed and spoken. Even after a closer reanalysis it turns out to be difficult in many instances to decide what the matrix language is, although in many instances it is NGT.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Looking at mixed sign/spoken language utterances provides insights into the bilingual brain, and adds to linguistic theory.